More Winter Storms Target Midwest, Northeast After $38B Blizzard Losses
Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 Auto Catastrophe Property Risk Management UnderwritingParts of the coastal Northeast are still digging out from a historic bomb cyclone that AccuWeather estimates caused $34 to $38 billion in damage and economic losses. Now, two additional winter systems are tracking across the Midwest and Northeast, with a potentially more impactful storm looming early next week. While current storms are forecast to be less severe, even minor snow and ice accumulations can drive new claims activity.
Light snow and wintry mix are affecting areas from the northern Great Lakes into the Northeast, including metro regions such as Boston and New York City. Even a coating to an inch of snow can refreeze cleared roadways, leading to auto accidents, slip and fall incidents, and delayed mitigation work. For adjusters, this creates renewed exposure on open claims where temporary repairs were completed but not permanently resolved.
A second fast-moving system is forecast to move from the Dakotas through Ohio and West Virginia. Snow accumulations are expected to be modest in most areas, but localized bands may produce a few inches. Mixed precipitation could complicate liability and property claims, particularly where sleet or freezing rain contributes to roof stress, ice dam formation, or hazardous commercial premises conditions.
Forecast models also indicate a surge of Arctic air entering the Upper Midwest and Northeast. A brief warmup ahead of the cold front may accelerate snowmelt. Rapid melting followed by freezing temperatures can damage roofing systems, gutters, and drainage infrastructure. For property adjusters, this raises concerns about ice dam claims, interior water damage, and freeze-related plumbing losses.
Early next week, a broader storm may develop, potentially bringing significant snow and ice to Chicago and Detroit while delivering heavy rain to portions of the coastal Northeast. If substantial rainfall falls on deep snowpack, urban flooding risk increases. That scenario would test stormwater systems and could trigger basement flooding claims and sewer backup losses. Adjusters should also monitor whether policies include water backup endorsements and how anti-concurrent causation language may apply.
Warmer air south of the storm track may fuel severe thunderstorms in parts of the South. This introduces the possibility of wind and hail claims outside the traditional winter weather footprint, expanding CAT exposure geographically.
With repeated storm waves, adjusters face compounding challenges: delayed inspections, increased rental and additional living expense durations, contractor scarcity, and overlapping deductibles. Monitoring local precipitation totals, temperature swings, and storm track shifts will be critical for accurate reserving and deployment planning.
