AI Analysis · Feb 22, 2026
Not Safe
HIGH RISK
gpt-5.1
96% confidence
Summary
Driving is hazardous today due to a blizzard with heavy snow, strong winds, and rapidly worsening conditions, especially this afternoon and tonight. Travel may become very difficult to impossible with low visibility and deep accumulating snow.
Hourly Forecast
6 AM 35%
3 mph
7 AM 39%
5 mph
8 AM 47%
7 mph
9 AM 54%
9 mph
10 AM 61%
10 mph
11 AM 64%
12 mph
12 PM 67%
12 mph
1 PM 70%
13 mph
2 PM 73%
14 mph
3 PM 75%
14 mph
4 PM 78%
15 mph
5 PM 85%
15 mph
6 PM 93%
15 mph
7 PM 100%
16 mph
8 PM 100%
18 mph
9 PM 100%
21 mph
10 PM 100%
23 mph
11 PM 100%
24 mph
Key Factors
- 01 Active Blizzard Warning from 10:00 AM today through 6:00 PM Monday with expected 18–25 inches of snow and gusts up to 45 mph
- 02 Daytime: Rain and snow changing to snow with temperatures falling toward freezing, creating slick roads and potential slush/ice (1–3 inches new snow)
- 03 From about 3:00 PM onward: forecast of heavy snow, increasing NE winds (15–24+ mph, gusts to 26+ mph) and areas of blowing snow, sharply reducing visibility
- 04 Evening and overnight: 15–21 inches of additional snow possible with strong NE winds 15–31 mph and gusts up to 46 mph, leading to near-whiteout conditions and deep accumulations
- 05 NWS guidance explicitly advises restricting travel to emergencies only during this storm
Recommendation
Given the Blizzard Warning and official advice to restrict travel to emergencies only, non‑essential driving is not recommended at any time today. If you absolutely must drive for an emergency, the relatively less hazardous window is early morning before conditions deteriorate (around 7:00–9:00 AM), and there is no truly safe evening window; the least-worst time would be early evening before winds peak (around 6:00–8:00 PM), but conditions will still be dangerous with heavy snow and blowing snow.