BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — A newly released NOAA Day 3–7 U.S. Hazards Outlook is highlighting a corridor of potential heavy snow and high winds from Baltimore north through Philadelphia, New York City, and up to Boston between February 22 and February 23, 2026. The map outlines a coastal zone where significant winter impacts could develop — but only if a rapidly strengthening storm system takes shape offshore.
Forecasters note that this threat hinges on the formation of a possible bomb cyclone, a rapidly intensifying coastal low-pressure system capable of producing heavy snowfall, damaging wind gusts, and hazardous marine conditions.
Cities From Baltimore to Boston Marked on NOAA Hazard Map
The NOAA outlook clearly outlines a coastal swath that includes:
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- New York City, New York
- Boston, Massachusetts
Within this zone, the map highlights “Heavy Snow” and “High Winds” for February 22–23, while offshore waters show a separate area labeled for “Significant Waves” during the same period.
The placement of these hazard zones suggests the greatest impacts would be focused along the I-95 corridor, particularly in coastal and near-coastal communities.
Bomb Cyclone Development Is the Key Variable
The outlook specifically indicates that impacts depend on whether a bomb cyclone forms along the East Coast. A bomb cyclone occurs when a storm rapidly intensifies, typically deepening at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. When this happens near the coastline, strong pressure gradients can produce powerful winds while colder air wrapping into the system can generate heavy snowfall…