A winter storm rapidly intensified on Monday, threatening the Eastern U.S and Midwest with heavy snow, high winds and blizzards as its “hazardous” conditions caused major travel disruptions.
The big picture: A bomb cyclone and trailing Arctic airmass were set to combine to unleash a “messy mix of rain, sleet, and freezing rain over the Northeast and New England,” per a National Weather Service forecast discussion Monday. And the Northeast and Great Lakes face more extreme weather into the new year.
Threat level: Arctic air was set to “surge” into the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., including Florida, the NWS said.
- Major cities impacted by this week’s severe weather include Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Detroit — where a weather-related pile-up involving at least 50 vehicles including semitrucks shut Interstate 75 for hours Monday.
- Winter storm warnings were in effect for parts of N.Y. and Michigan, and a high win warning was issued for parts of Massachusetts Monday. A wind advisory was in effect for D.C. and portions of Maryland and Virginia.
70 mph winds have been recorded in Buffalo and are expected to continue through tonight.
An intense band of snow is moving parallel to Lake Erie and will continue to track eastward, resulting in near-whiteout conditions. Travel will remain hazardous, please stay off the roads. pic.twitter.com/9kXSQywFx8
— NYS Div. of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (@NYSDHSES) December 29, 2025
By the numbers: Nearly 9,000 flights into, or out of the U.S. were delayed and more than 1,500 others canceled as an Arctic cold front swept across the Eastern Seaboard Monday, per flight tracking site FlightAware.
State of play: The Arctic front will lead in a period of gusty to high winds and sharply colder temperatures over the entire eastern U.S. Heavy lake effect snow is then expected from Lakes Erie and Ontario through New Year’s Day,” according to the weather agency.
- Very cold northwesterly winds were set to wrap around the exiting cyclone and combine with a reinforcing Alberta clipper, or fast-moving low-pressure system, to bring heavy lake effect snowfall downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario later this week
- An additional 1-2 feet was expected through Wednesday within the heaviest snow bands.
- “Tonight, subfreezing overnight low temperatures will be found as far south as the Gulf Coast, which has prompted the issuance of Freeze Warnings, Watches, and Cold Weather Advisories across the region,” the NWS noted.
- The rest of the Eastern U.S. can expect the the frontal passage to entail “strong wind gusts and daytime high temperatures 20-25 degrees colder compared to today, per the NWS.
Zoom in: “Looking toward the West, impactful accumulating snowfall and localized blizzard conditions will persist over southeastern New Mexico and southwest Texas into the late evening hours near the tail end of the Arctic front,” according to the weather agency, which noted tranquil conditions will broadly prevail for much of that region Tuesday.
- “A quick warm-up is in store for the Northern and Central Plains beginning tonight” as the midweek Alberta clipper spreads mild air down the Rockies and into the Plains, before the associated cold front plunges temperatures over the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Wednesday.”
2025 ends & 2026 begins on a wintry note for portions of the Great Lakes & Northeast as lake-effect snow & scattered snow showers are forecast to continue for a few more days. There is increasing confidence in snow squalls causing bursts of snow & gusty winds New Year’s Eve. pic.twitter.com/v6l03ck5GN
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) December 29, 2025
Editor’s note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Source: Intensifying winter storm snarls U.S. holiday travel amid “hazardous” conditions
