Kylie Drunasky | Student Life Editor
February 27, 2026
A severe snow storm has sent the Northeast of the United States into a panic. People stay confined to their homes, daring not to test the conditions. Or so we thought.
With 20 inches of snow recorded in Central Park and 38 inches in Rhode Island, the storm broke the past record of 28 inches in 1978, making it clear that it will take hard work to get back to normal living conditions. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a full snow day off for all students in person and online. Other states including Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are experiencing rolling power outages and widespread fear of falling trees or branches that can lead to even more dangerous road conditions. Thousands of flights have been canceled along with state bans for non-essential travel in place for Rhode Island and Connecticut, following the same ban implemented in Massachusetts. The travel ban in New York City stopped more than 8 million people in their tracks until it was later lifted. This weather emergency has stretched from North Carolina to Maine, along with some parts of Canada.
The SCHS Model Congress also took a hit from this intense blizzard. Initially, their stay was meant to be 6 days long in Boston; however, the weather conditions moved their flight back by 2 days, extending their stay in Boston. Junior Chloe de Traversay recalled their first day having “18 inches of snow with 50 mph winds,” which kept them from leaving the hotel. With all the stores and restaurants being closed, it was even difficult to find food to eat. Many of the students are stressed out from missing another week of school, but de Traversay explained that “Mr. Kolasa and Dr. Baker has notified their teachers to give them 6 school days to make up anything for full points.” Junior Luisa D’Acosta described her experience as “fun, but unplanned” with the group “not being allowed to leave the hotel and even “getting stuck in an elevator.” The Model Congress flight was canceled twice, leaving mixed reactions of stress due to missing more school, or of excitement with more days to explore Boston once the snow had died down.
New York City has taken the stay at home order in their own hands. After the major part of the storm, crowds have gathered in Central Park, holding massive snowball fights. NY citizens have used the piled up snow to their advantage, getting creative. They say skiing isn’t just for the mountains, but can be done in the city. Crowds form to watch skiers hit man-made jumps, and even cars pulling snowboarders down the streets. Some even find it easier to use their ski gear to walk through the snow and navigate the city. To quicken the recovery from the blizzard, New York’s Mayor Mamdani has offered $30 an hour to shovel snow.
The snowball fights in particular have escalated to involvement with police, leading to the debate on whether they should stop it in favor of public safety. Further questions arise when citizens begin throwing snowballs at the police officers. Should it be considered assault, or just the public trying to include them in their snow activities? Overall, the response to the snow blizzard in the city has produced a positive look on NYC, as if the snow activity had brought the community together.
Leave a Reply