Winter Storm Snarls Post-Holiday Travel Across US Northeast and Great Lakes

Major Winter Storm Grips Northeast and Great Lakes

A substantial winter storm swept across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the United States from Friday, December 26, through Saturday, December 27, 2025, severely impacting post-holiday travel. The storm delivered a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, leading to extensive flight cancellations and treacherous driving conditions across multiple states.

Widespread Travel Disruptions Reported

Air travel was particularly hard hit, with over 1,000 to 2,700 flights canceled or delayed across the U.S. since Friday, according to flight-tracking services like FlightAware. By Saturday morning, FlightAware reported at least 1,500 cancellations from Friday night into Saturday. The three major airports serving the New York metropolitan area—Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport—were among the most affected, posting snow warnings on social media platform X on Friday.

Road conditions also deteriorated significantly, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service about hazardous travel from the Great Lakes through the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Officials urged travelers to avoid non-essential travel, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul declaring a state of emergency for more than half of New York State, and Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way issuing a similar declaration for all of New Jersey. Governor Way stated, 'This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel.' Commercial vehicle restrictions were implemented on some roads in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, affecting major highways including Interstates 95, 81, and 80.

Snowfall and Ice Accumulations

The storm delivered varying amounts of precipitation across the affected regions:

• New York City's Central Park recorded 4.3 inches of snow, marking its most significant snowfall since January 2022.
• Areas in central eastern Long Island saw over 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow.
• The Catskills received as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snowfall.
• A broader area from Syracuse to Long Island and into Connecticut experienced 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) of snow.
• Western and west-central Pennsylvania faced hazardous ice accretions, with localized areas seeing over a quarter inch, leading to potential tree damage and power outages.
• In Michigan, ice accumulations caused power outages for more than 40,000 homes and businesses.

Outlook and Ongoing Concerns

While the heaviest snowfall began to subside by Saturday morning, forecasters from the National Weather Service indicated that the storm was winding down. However, a second winter storm is anticipated to affect the Great Lakes region from December 28-29, 2025, bringing additional accumulating snow, strong winds, and blowing snow, particularly to Lake Michigan's coastal counties. Authorities continue to advise caution for travelers during this busy holiday period.