The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron launched the first of three Hurricane Hunters missions off the East Coast at approximately 7:15-7:45 PM UTC on February 21, 2026, to gather data ahead of a developing massive Northeast blizzard expected to wrap up like a hurricane, according to meteorologist JeremyDeHartWX in an X post during this 29-minute period. JeremyDeHartWX stated the missions target the weekend storm system, building on prior expansions of Blizzard Warnings to coastal regions from Boston to southern Delaware reported earlier today by meteorologist PettusWX. A model blend shows nearly 30 inches of snow possible in New York City, as reported by AllanWeather in an X post, exceeding 2016 blizzard projections and potentially rivaling the city's strongest recorded storms. The National Weather Service had previously issued Blizzard Warnings for the New York City area forecasting 13-18 inches from Sunday 6:00 AM to Monday 6:00 PM UTC, according to NYC Councilmember Mark Levine earlier on February 21. These developments align with 12Z NAM model predictions of 24+ inches across many Northeast areas, as noted by meteorologist BlediB7.
