Live Updates: School Closings and Delays Near You—Check the Full List Now

A powerful winter storm racing up the East Coast overnight has blanketed large swaths of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with heavy snow, forcing hundreds of school districts, universities, courts and government offices to announce closings and delays for Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. The system, which intensified Sunday evening, is delivering snow rates of 1–2 inches per hour from Washington, D.C., through New England and has already caused more than 1,900 flight cancellations nationwide. District-by-district decisions came quickly as snow totals mounted. In central Ohio, Columbus City Schools, Olentangy Local and dozens more moved to two-hour starts or switched to remote learning, while rural districts such as Logan Elm closed outright. Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs opted for a full snow day, citing bus safety concerns and staffing shortages; some charter networks will operate virtually. In New Jersey, more than 250 public and private schools—from Newark to Cape May—posted delayed openings or closures as forecasters warned of white-out conditions along the Turnpike corridor. State governments are adjusting schedules as well. Federal offices in the D.C. metro area will open three hours late, while Massachusetts Governor Eleanor Watkins ordered all non-essential state employees to work remotely, citing treacherous roads across Worcester County and the Merrimack Valley. New Hampshire reported more than 430 active closings or delays on its statewide alert system by 6 a.m., and Maine school districts pre-emptively canceled Monday classes with blizzard warnings still in effect. Transportation impacts extend beyond the classroom. Amtrak reduced Northeast Corridor service by 25 percent, and major airlines issued travel waivers for Boston Logan, Philadelphia International and the three New York City airports. The National Weather Service expects the heaviest snow to exit the I-95 corridor by early afternoon, but blowing and drifting could keep secondary roads slick into Tuesday morning. State highway agencies are urging commuters to delay travel, noting that salt effectiveness drops sharply once temperatures slide below 20 °F. Parents and employees looking for the latest information should monitor district robocalls, local TV scrolls and official social-media feeds. Experts say having a flexible plan—child-care backup, remote-work arrangements, and charged devices—can ease stress during winter shutdowns. Meteorologists are already watching a clipper system that could graze the Great Lakes late Wednesday, potentially adding fresh rounds of light snow and reinforcing the region’s cold grip. For now, Monday’s widespread closings and delays underscore a familiar winter reality: when a quick-hitting nor’easter meets the morning commute, caution—and a slow start—wins the day.