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Updated at 2:42 p.m. Feb. 23, 2026:

As of 2 p.m. Feb. 23, a statewide travel ban has been lifted as the last snow continues to fall in parts of the state. Travel remains dangerous, however.

The travel ban, which began at 9 p.m. Sunday, had been extended until noon Monday as conditions remained treacherous this morning.

“We have lifted the mandatory travel restrictions that began at 9:00 p.m. last night,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill wrote on social media. “We still strongly urge residents to stay off the roads and stay inside, as conditions remain dangerous and crews are still working to clear the roads.”

NJ Transit service remains suspended. Hundreds of flights have been canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport.

There are more than 125,000 power outages statewide, particularly in South Jersey, Central Jersey and along the Jersey Shore.

The highest snowfall totals reported include:

• Carlstadt, Bergen County – 27.9 inches
• Englewood, Bergen County – 27.5 inches
• Bogota, Bergen County – 27.4 inches
• Ridgefield, Bergen County – 27.1 inches
• Newark Airport, Union County – 27.1 inches

“New Jersey: we will get through this together,” Sherrill said on social media. “Our crews are working diligently to safely clear the roads. In the meantime, check in on your neighbors and loved ones.”

Original story published at 8:21 a.m. Feb. 23:

• Gov. Mikie Sherrill had extended mandatory travel ban to noon Feb. 23
• NJ Transit suspended bus, rail, light rail, Access Link service
• More than 100K power outages reported statewide

New Jersey wakes up to significant snowfall Monday, after a historic blizzard moved through overnight. The storm prompted a state of emergency declaration, travel ban, public transit suspensions and widespread closures across the state.

And the snow continues to fall.

Much of New Jersey is effectively shut down as the dig-out begins Feb. 23. State offices are closed and most school districts have canceled classes. Officials urge residents to stay home as crews continue clearing roads and assessing damage.

A mandatory overnight travel ban ordered by Gov. Mikie Sherrill took effect at 9 p.m. Sunday. It keeps all non-essential vehicles off roadways to allow plows, emergency responders and utility crews to operate safely.

The ban was originally supposed to lift at 7 a.m. However, Sherrill announced during an appearance on Fox 5’s Good Day New York Monday that she would extend it until noon.

“The roads are horrible. Plows are having trouble even seeing some of the guardrails to get the snow off of the roads,” said Sherrill. “We’re down to pavement on the Turnpike. But we’re working to get there on the Garden State [Parkway].

“If we are working that hard to get the snow off the state roads, you can only imagine what the municipal and county roads look like. And it’s not just that — it’s the drift. It’s the wind. We still have significant winds out there and whiteout conditions. So, we are extending that travel ban until noon today.”

Getting mass transit back on track

New Jersey also halted public transportation service head of the worst conditions.

NJ Transit suspended bus, light rail and Access Link service Sunday evening. Rail service shut down by 9 p.m., as the storm intensified.

Officials said service restorations and schedule adjustments will depend on track conditions, equipment inspections and snow removal efforts.

The agency underscored that a full return to normal operations remains fluid.

Sherrill stressed that keeping roads clear overnight was critical not only for plowing, but also for emergency response and power restoration. Utility companies mobilized thousands of workers in anticipation of outages, and restoration efforts were ongoing Monday morning.

New Jersey, we’re still in the middle of a historic storm.

We remain in a State of Emergency in all 21 counties.

Here’s the latest you need to know to stay safe.

— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) February 23, 2026

According to the centers for the major utilities, there are more than 100,000 outages across the state as of Monday morning.

“We have over 5,000 public utilities workers that the utilities companies have called in,” said Sherrill. “They’ve surged their own workers to be on alert today. And then they’ve also brought in mutual aid from other states. We’ve had over 200,000 power outages. About half of them have been restored.

“Workers are out there. The municipalities have been great. It’s been really hard for them as you can imagine.”

Garden State snowfalls, so far

According to the National Weather Service, the highest snowfall totals, as of 6:40 a.m., fell in:

• Freehold, Monmouth County – 19.0 inches
• Mount Holly, Burlington County – 18.5 inches
• Lake Pine, Burlington County – 18.0 inches

Authorities cautioned that lingering snow, potential flooding and downed wires could continue to disrupt travel and daily life even after the heaviest weather bands move out. Officials expect to provide further updates as cleanup continues.

“The early morning commute is going to be difficult – and I think people need to really prepare to stay home tomorrow,” Sherrill said about Monday during an appearance on News 12 Sunday.

On Feb. 22, Sherrill made in-person appearances including during a news event in Woodbridge and a visit to a New Jersey Department of Transportation maintenance facility. She also did several radio and television hits about the storm.

Sherrill will continue another wave of appearances Monday morning as the state digs out.

She passed on a special thanks on behalf of the workers who were on last night to New Jerseyans for heeding the call to stay off the roads.

“[T]hey wanted me to express to everyone in New Jersey how helpful it’s been that people have not been on the road,” said Sherrill. “That was something that they truly appreciated.”

Please stay with us for the very latest on this developing story.