Frigid wintry weather swept across the eastern United States this week, bringing with it a cascade of disruptions that left millions of Americans grappling with canceled flights, closed schools, and widespread power outages. The cold snap, which peaked on Monday, December 15, 2025, was marked by record-setting snowfalls and bitter Arctic air, affecting daily life from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
According to reports from The Independent and corroborated by national weather agencies, over 4,500 flights were delayed or canceled within, into, or out of the U.S. during the peak of the storm. The biggest impacts were felt at major airports in New York City, where more than three dozen flights were canceled at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports after a ground stop was issued on Sunday, December 14. Philadelphia International Airport also saw significant disruptions, with dozens of canceled flights and nearly 1,000 customers left without electricity.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned that wind could continue to impact flights at airports in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. In a social media post, the agency cautioned, "Wind could affect flights at @BostonLogan, @JFKairport, @LGAairport, @EWRairport, @PHLAirport, @Reagan_Airport, @Dulles_Airport and @BWI_Airport." Travelers found themselves stuck in terminals, with one frustrated passenger sharing on X, "LaGuardia seems to be playing hot potato with my flight."
But it wasn’t just air travel that was thrown into chaos. The severe weather led to widespread power outages, with nearly 8,000 Pennsylvanians and 1,000 Philadelphians left in the dark. According to PowerOutage.US, the storm’s impact on the electrical grid was felt most acutely in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where heavy, wet snow and gusty winds downed power lines and left utility crews scrambling to restore service.
Snowfall totals were impressive—and in some places, historic. More than half a foot of snow blanketed the local Tri-State area, with New York forecasters reporting a daily snowfall record of 4.6 inches at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Philadelphia received 4.2 inches, while snow was still falling across the Great Lakes region, with up to an inch or more expected in Michigan’s northern communities. The National Weather Service explained that lake effect snow, a phenomenon where cold air moving south from Canada picks up moisture and heat from the Great Lakes, was responsible for dumping as many as three inches of fresh snow in parts of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic on Monday.
"Lake effect snow should begin to wrap up across the Upper Great Lakes this afternoon, and then the Lower Great Lakes this evening," the National Weather Service stated. The snow didn’t just create postcard-perfect winter scenes; it also brought real headaches for families and students. Several school districts in central Ohio were closed or had delayed start times due to the hazardous conditions, as reported by 10 WBNS. Similar closures and delays were reported in Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and New Jersey.
For students, the timing of the storm was especially disruptive. "It’s been disrupting school. My final exams have been canceled, so it’s been an issue for sure," one local student told Virginia’s WDBJ 7. Across the region, parents scrambled to adjust work schedules, and children bundled up for impromptu snow days—some making the best of it by sledding and building snowmen in city parks.
Underlying all this was the relentless Arctic air, which brought record-low high temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills to a vast swath of the country. More than 70 million Americans were under Cold Weather Alerts as of December 15, according to Fox Weather. In Detroit, the "feels-like" temperature dropped as low as five degrees Fahrenheit, a level that can cause frostbite within minutes to any exposed skin. "Six degrees when we got in the car," Michigander Kristina Crofut told ARC West Michigan, capturing the bone-chilling conditions facing commuters throughout the region.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski warned in a statement, "AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be dangerously cold across the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast through Monday." The cold snap was so intense that even daytime highs struggled to climb above the teens in many locations. In Detroit, for example, projected afternoon highs hovered near 20 degrees on Monday, before a gradual warm-up was expected to take hold.
But there was light at the end of the tunnel. Meteorologists forecasted that temperatures would rebound throughout the Plains, Great Lakes, and Northeast beginning Tuesday, December 16. "The bitterly cold blast of Arctic air will only last an additional 36 to 48 hours in many places. In Detroit, following the projected afternoon highs not far from 20 degrees Monday, highs will rise to near 40 by Wednesday and even middle and upper 40s by Thursday," Pydynowski said. This promised relief for those who had spent days bundling up against the elements and coping with the logistical headaches of winter weather.
Despite the challenges, some communities managed to find moments of levity amid the storm. In New York City, children flocked to Central Park to play in the fresh snow, while in other neighborhoods, neighbors helped shovel sidewalks and check on elderly residents. For many, the storm was a reminder of the unpredictability of winter in the Northeast and the resilience required to get through it.
Looking ahead, officials urged residents to remain cautious as temperatures began to rise, warning that melting snow and lingering ice could create hazardous driving conditions. School districts continued to monitor the weather closely, with some planning for additional delays or remote learning days should conditions fail to improve quickly.
As the eastern U.S. digs out and recovers, the week’s events serve as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness. With the memory of record-setting snowfalls and bitter cold still fresh, communities across the region are looking forward to milder days—and perhaps, just a little more sunshine.
