February 24, 2026 in Customer Advisory
Customer Advisory: Northeast Winter Storm – Port Closures
January 26, 2026,
Dear Valued Customer,
A severe winter storm impacted the Northeastern United States beginning February 22–23, 2026, resulting in widespread snowfall, travel restrictions, and temporary suspension of transportation operations. The storm has caused closures across multiple marine terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey, along with disruption to regional trucking, rail, and air cargo networks.
Customers with shipments moving through the Northeast may experience delays as operations resume and backlogs are cleared.
Port of New York & New Jersey – Terminal Status
Terminal gates and vessel operations were suspended on February 23 and February 24, with reopening subject to ongoing snow removal, safety assessments, and terminal readiness. Operators indicated that limited or phased reopening may occur as conditions allow, and extended free time may be applied once gates reopen.
Broader Logistics and Supply Chain Impacts
In addition to port closures, the winter storm has affected multiple components of the regional supply chain:
- Drayage and Trucking:
Hazardous road conditions, state-issued travel restrictions, and reduced driver availability have constrained drayage and over-the-road capacity throughout the Northeast. Even as weather conditions improve, congestion and equipment imbalances may persist during recovery. - Air Cargo:
Heavy snowfall and airport closures led to widespread flight cancellations at New York area airports, including Newark (EWR), JFK, and LaGuardia, significantly reducing available air cargo capacity and creating backlogs that may take several days to normalize. - Rail and Inland Distribution:
Intermodal operations and warehouse activities across the region have experienced delays due to weather-related access issues and staffing constraints, contributing to slower freight flows beyond port terminals.
Industry reporting indicates that while recovery efforts are underway, shippers should anticipate extended transit times and congestion as ports and transportation providers work through accumulated volumes.
Customer Considerations
Customers may wish to consider the following risk‑mitigation actions:
- Anticipate delays for cargo moving through Northeast gateways, particularly the Port of New York and New Jersey
- Allow for additional transit time as terminal and carrier operations normalize
- Monitor terminal gate announcements and carrier communications for updated schedules
- Coordinate closely with logistics partners regarding shipment prioritization and recovery planning
Our Support
We continue to monitor weather conditions, terminal updates, and carrier communications across the Northeast. Our teams are engaged with port authorities and service providers and will provide further updates as material changes occur.
Sincerely,
APL Logistics
Sources
- FreightWaves: 27 inches of snow closes Maersk, other New York‑New Jersey terminals, February 24, 2026
- FreightWaves: Blizzard shuts down container terminals at northeast ports, February 23, 2026
- Port of New York & New Jersey / Breaking Waves: Winter Weather Advisory – Facility Closures, February 23–24, 2026
- Kuehne+Nagel / FreightWaves: Blizzard shuts major Northeast U.S. terminals and halts regional cargo movements, February 24, 2026
Click here to download the advisory
About APL Logistics
APL Logistics is a leading global supply chain logistics provider focused on order management. With over four decades of experience, we offer innovative, end-to-end supply chain solutions across various industries. With a strategic balance of our world-class account management teams, proprietary digital solutions, and an extensive network, APL Logistics’ Order Management will enable your business to stand out, adapt faster, and execute more efficiently than your competitors.
The APL Logistics group of companies has a global network covering all major markets and is backed by a multinational workforce. APL Logistics Ltd is a member of the Kintetsu World Express group, a global logistics services provider. For more information, visit www.apllogistics.com, email us at global_marketing@apllogistics.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.