Historic Blizzard of 2026 Dumps Record Snow Across Rhode Island, Up to 3 Feet Reported

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (Entering Pawtucket) — A powerful winter storm dubbed the “Blizzard of 2026” buried much of southern New England under historic snowfall, with Rhode Island seeing some of the highest totals and record-breaking accumulations as the storm continued into the evening.

Heavy snow and strong winds pummeled the region as a rapidly intensifying nor’easter moved up the East Coast, creating whiteout conditions and dangerous travel throughout Rhode Island and neighboring states. Forecasters warned snowfall totals could approach or exceed three feet in parts of the Ocean State before the storm ended.

In Pawtucket, snowfall totals reached 33.9 inches, setting a new record for the largest snowstorm ever recorded in the city and surpassing the previous mark set during the historic Blizzard of 1978.

Meteorologists reported snowfall rates of several inches per hour at times as bands of heavy snow moved across the region. Strong winds combined with blowing snow significantly reduced visibility, creating blizzard conditions across southern New England.

The massive storm impacted millions of residents across the Northeast, with widespread travel disruptions, power outages and emergency responses reported across multiple states. Officials urged residents to stay off roads and remain indoors as crews struggled to keep up with the rapidly accumulating snow.

Across Rhode Island, snow totals rivaled or exceeded many of the state’s historic storms. Some communities saw accumulations near or above three feet, leaving vehicles buried and neighborhoods blanketed in deep drifts.

The storm began impacting the region Sunday evening and intensified overnight, with snowfall continuing through Monday and into the afternoon before gradually tapering off.

Meteorologists say the Blizzard of 2026 will likely be remembered as one of the most significant winter storms in Rhode Island’s history, shattering long-standing snowfall records and rivaling some of the largest storms ever recorded in the Northeast.