Severe Winter Storm Hits Midwest and Northeast, Causing Travel Disruptions

Mon Dec 15 2025 03:33:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A powerful storm brought heavy snow and plunging temperatures to the Midwest and Northeast, leading to significant travel delays and hazardous road conditions as the Pacific Northwest braces for more rain amid ongoing flooding.

A winter storm has impacted large parts of the United States, delivering heavy snowfall to the Northeast and sub-zero temperatures in the Midwest. The New York-New Jersey metro area received its first significant snowfall of the season. Over 1,000 flights were delayed as travel conditions worsened, while the Pacific Northwest prepared for more rain after severe flooding. Emergency crews worked through the night to keep roads clear, with advisories in place to discourage unnecessary travel.

A weekend storm sent temperatures plunging well below zero in the Midwest and dumped heavy snow on parts of the Northeast on Sunday, creating many airport delays and slick roads as the Pacific Northwest braced for more rain after days of flooding and mudslides.

The storm began Saturday and brought up to several inches of snow in the New York-New Jersey metro area, marking the region's first significant snowfall of the season. Light snow also fell over parts of New England. While the storm was anticipated to weaken by Sunday night, arctic conditions were expected to follow, with overnight windchill temperatures plummeting below zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius).

Crews and contractors were mobilized to plow and treat roads in New Jersey, where the state Department of Transportation advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Salt spreaders and plows worked overnight to clear roadways and bike lanes, as reported by the New York City Department of Sanitation. Additionally, Pennsylvania temporarily reduced speed limits on interstates to 45 mph (72 kph).

Due to the adverse weather, over 1,000 flights were delayed and more than 100 were canceled at airports across the U.S., according to FlightAware, a flight tracking site.

The National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minnesota reported that Sunday marked the coldest morning of the season, with temperatures dropping to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 Celsius) at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and as low as -22 degrees (-30 Celsius) in some nearby communities.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest, which experienced catastrophic flooding in recent days, was bracing for additional rain and wind as forecasts indicated that wet weather could resume as early as late Sunday.

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