STORY: New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned on Saturday (February 21) that a fast‑moving and potentially life‑threatening blizzard is taking aim at the state, saying the latest forecast shows rapidly deteriorating conditions.

Speaking in Albany alongside state officials, Hochul announced she is declaring a state of emergency for 22 counties beginning Sunday (February 22) morning and has activated 100 members of the New York National Guard.

Blizzard warnings are in effect for New York City, parts of New Jersey, and Connecticut, with up to 1.5 feet (45.72 cm) of snow expected and winds gusting as high as 55 miles per hour (88.5 km per hour).

The National Weather Service says the storm will intensify on Sunday night into Monday (February 23), bringing whiteout conditions, coastal flooding, widespread power outages, and flight disruptions at all major airports.

Hochul urged residents to stay off the roads and told New Yorkers to heed warnings, with conditions unlikely to improve until Tuesday (February 24).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: ALBANY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 21, 2026) (GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL - Access all)

1. NEW YORK GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL, STANDING AT PODIUM SURROUNDED BY STATE OFFICIALS / (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL, SAYING:

"Over the last 24 hours, this forecast has shifted dramatically and, once again, New York state is in the crosshairs of a very dangerous, fast-moving, potentially life-threatening winter storm. And really in the last hour, we've received word that it's even worse than we expected and it's a rapidly deteriorating situation."

2. HOCHUL SPEAKING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL, SAYING:

"We're taking immediate action to protect our communities. I'm declaring a state of emergency for 22 counties across New York to begin tomorrow morning. I've already activated 100 members of the New York State National Guard."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL, SAYING:

"As you're hearing, this is going to be a brutal blizzard and, even if it's a short duration, we are vulnerable here. A lot of people need to know that this is a heightened situation. We need people to listen to what we're asking them to do which is stay off the roads, stay home. And life will be back to closer to normal on Tuesday but just bear with us as we ask all New Yorkers just to heed this, these very serious dire warnings."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. OFFICIALS WALKING AWAY AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 21, 2026) (NYC MAYOR'S OFFICE - Access all)

8. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, STANDING AT PODIUM WITH CITY OFFICIALS AROUND HIM / (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, SAYING:

"Tomorrow, our city will face its second snowstorm in less than a month and our first blizzard since 2016. Right now, forecasts predict light snow will begin to fall tomorrow (Sunday, February 22) morning at 6 a.m. (1100 GMT). Over the course of the day, it will grow heavier, with intense snowfall beginning at 6 p.m. (2300 GMT) and dangerous winds increasing overnight - conditions that will persist through Monday morning and into the evening. We are now expecting between 13 and 17 inches (33 to 43 cm) of snow but there is a slight chance we may see up to 20 inches (50.8 cm), if not more."

9. WHITE FLASH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK CITY MAYOR, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, SAYING: (WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO A PRIOR SNOWSTORM)

"We look at this blizzard that is coming to New York City and we are looking to utilise every tool that was successful last time around, and then utilise new tools as well. You heard the commissioner say from DSNY that we are bringing earlier activation of outside mechanisms before we've ever seen precedence for. This is all going back to, 'How can we clear the streets as fast as possible? How can we respond to the snow as fast as possible?'"

11. WHITE FLASH

12. NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING