US Winter Storm Unleashes Heavy Snow, Crippling Travel, and Arctic Blast Across Northeast and Midwest

Weekend Storm Blankets Regions, Disrupts Travel

A significant winter storm impacted the Northeast and Midwest United States over the weekend of December 13-14, 2025, bringing heavy snowfall, widespread travel disruptions, and dangerous road conditions. The system, which originated near the Canada–United States border on December 12, redeveloped as a coastal low, delivering substantial snow accumulations across the Mid-Atlantic and New England states.

Snowfall totals varied, with some areas experiencing over a foot of snow. Perrysburg, New York, recorded a remarkable 23.7 inches (60 cm), while Howell Township, New Jersey, saw 8.6 inches (22 cm). In the Midwest, North Dakota received up to 11 inches, Wyoming 9.4 inches, and Vergas, Minnesota, 9 inches. The storm marked the earliest in-season inch of snow for Central Park, New York City, since 2019.

Airports and Roads Face Major Disruptions

The severe weather led to extensive travel chaos. Over 1,000 flights were delayed and more than 100 flights were canceled across U.S. airports. Major hubs in the New York area, including JFK International, LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark Liberty International (EWR), were particularly affected, experiencing hundreds of cancellations and significant arrival delays, with LaGuardia seeing average delays of nearly 2 hours and 38 minutes and Newark 2 hours and 50 minutes. Ground stops were implemented at both JFK and Philadelphia International Airport.

Roadways became treacherous, contributing to numerous accidents. Authorities reported hundreds of crashes, including at least four fatalities primarily due to weather-related car incidents. A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 near Springfield, Illinois, resulted in a fatality, as did another on Interstate 57. In response to hazardous conditions, Pennsylvania temporarily reduced speed limits on interstates to 45 mph, and New Jersey officials advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Power Outages and Arctic Conditions Follow

Beyond travel, the storm caused significant power outages, leaving over 41,100 people without electricity across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Mercer County, New Jersey, alone saw at least 2,000 residents lose power.

As the storm moved eastward, an intense arctic blast swept across the affected regions, bringing dangerously cold temperatures. Approximately 60 million people were under cold weather advisories. Temperatures in the Northern Plains and Midwest plummeted, with forecasts indicating lows of -25°F and wind chills feeling as low as -30° to -35°F. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport recorded -10°F (-23°C), with some communities experiencing temperatures as low as -22°F (-30°C). The Chicago area faced wind chills between -20° and -25°F. This frigid air is expected to persist, with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center forecasting a high probability of below-average temperatures for the Eastern U.S. through December 16.