As the final days of 2025 tick down, Americans from Colorado to Florida and Illinois are experiencing a New Year’s weather rollercoaster that is rewriting traditions, challenging expectations, and, in some cases, even threatening to send iguanas tumbling from trees. From the sun-soaked, thin-iced lakes of Evergreen, Colorado, to the near-record warmth in Miami, and the sudden chill sweeping across Springfield, Illinois, this holiday season’s weather is anything but predictable.
In Evergreen, Colorado, the usual scene of bundled-up skaters gliding across a frozen lake has been replaced by a tableau more reminiscent of spring. The Evergreen Parks and Recreation Department announced the postponement of two of the town’s most cherished winter events—Icefest on New Year’s Eve and the Active4All New Year’s Day Lake Plunge. The culprit? The ice on Evergreen Lake simply wasn’t thick enough to safely support the festivities.
On December 28, 2025, visitors arriving at Evergreen Lake were greeted not by the scrape of skate blades, but by the groaning and cracking of thin ice under a surprisingly strong sun. Instead of hockey sticks and skates, the lake’s surface was dotted with warning signs and a boarded-up rental hut, cautioning would-be revelers to stay off the fragile ice. The mood, however, was far from somber. People snapped photos, walked their dogs, and basked in the unseasonable warmth, making the most of the unexpected change.
Deborah Murphy, who was visiting from Oregon, summed up the mood with a sense of acceptance and wonder. “Well, I was not sure, just because I know it’s been so warm,” she told local reporters, watching her kids entertain themselves by tossing chunks of ice across the lake’s surface. “The kids are really having fun, you know, throwing the chopped-up pieces of ice, watching them skitter, scatter.”
Across the street, the EverBean Coffee Company was bustling. Owner Renee Renken, who typically sells hot chocolate to chilly skaters this time of year, found herself serving up iced drinks instead. “Everyone’s in such a happy mood because of this beautiful sunshine,” she remarked. Far from seeing a downturn, Renken reported that business was as strong as ever, if not better. “I think this nice weather is not really deterring people from coming to Evergreen, which is awesome for the businesses that are here.”
Despite missing out on a white Christmas and the usual ice-bound revelry, the community’s spirit remained undimmed. Murphy found beauty even in the altered landscape, noting, “It’s kind of beautiful how the bubbles are freezing [on the lake]. It’s kind of neat. Still beautiful.” Renken echoed that sentiment, delighted to see visitors flocking to Evergreen regardless of the lake’s condition. “It just brings a different vibe,” she said, reflecting on the town’s ability to adapt and find joy in whatever weather comes its way.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles southeast, South Florida was on the verge of a dramatic weather shift of its own. On December 29, 2025, Miami and Fort Lauderdale basked in mid-80s temperatures—soaring close to the record high of 85 degrees for that date. But residents and visitors alike were warned not to get too comfortable in their summer attire. According to NBC6’s Chelsea Ambriz, a powerful cold front was poised to sweep through the region on the morning of December 30, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures.
“A cold front just in time for New Year’s Eve is going to drop temperatures across South Florida, so fans of chilly temps can start their 2026 off right,” Ambriz reported. But she added a uniquely Floridian warning: “Just be wary of falling iguanas.” The drastic cooling was expected to usher in morning lows in the 40s on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day—potentially the coldest readings since January 2025.
The forecast painted a picture of rapid change: from mostly sunny and warm with highs of 84°F on Monday, to a Tuesday marked by the cold front’s passage and temperatures ranging from 62°F to 74°F. By Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, the high was expected to be just 49°F, and New Year’s Day would dawn sunny, cool, and dry with a low of 47°F. After the chilly start to 2026, a slow warming trend was anticipated heading into the weekend.
Up in central Illinois, Springfield residents were bracing for a classic winter turnaround. After a stretch of unseasonably pleasant weather, the forecast called for a return to colder, windier conditions as 2025 gave way to 2026. According to the Springfield State Journal-Register, daytime highs throughout the week would hover in the mid-30s—below the December average high of 40.7°F but right in line with January’s typical 35.9°F.
New Year’s Eve, December 31, was expected to be partly sunny with a high near 36°F, dropping to a brisk 15°F at night. New Year’s Day would bring mostly sunny skies but a high of only 25°F, ensuring that winter coats would once again be the order of the day for anyone venturing out to ring in the new year.
The abrupt shifts in weather across the country highlight the unpredictable nature of this year’s holiday season. In Evergreen, the unseasonable warmth forced beloved traditions to adapt, but the community’s resilience and creativity shone through. In Florida, the coming cold snap offered a rare taste of winter for those more accustomed to tropical breezes—along with the quirky hazard of chilled iguanas losing their grip on tree branches. And in Illinois, the return to typical winter conditions served as a reminder that, no matter how mild the lead-up, the Midwest rarely lets a new year begin without a proper chill.
For businesses like EverBean Coffee Company, the weather’s twists and turns proved to be an unexpected boon. “We are just as busy as we were last year, if not busier,” Renken observed, grateful that the altered climate hadn’t dampened the town’s festive spirit. Across all three regions, locals and visitors found ways to make the most of whatever Mother Nature delivered—whether that meant swapping skates for sneakers, hot chocolate for iced lattes, or shorts for parkas.
As Americans prepare to celebrate the arrival of 2026, it’s clear that the only constant is change. Whether basking in the sun, bracing against the wind, or marveling at the oddities of the season, communities across the country are embracing the new year with flexibility, good humor, and a determination to find joy—no matter what the forecast holds.
