The Northeast and Midwest faced their first major taste of winter on December 2, 2025, as a fast-moving snowstorm swept through both regions, blanketing communities in snow and ice, snarling travel, and prompting school closures. From the wind-swept hills of Maine to the plains of Missouri, the storm left a trail of disruption in its wake, delivering up to a foot of snow in some areas and bringing the season’s first real test for residents and emergency responders alike.
According to the Associated Press, the storm delivered up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow, along with gusty winds and heavy rain, to states including Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. While some coastal cities, such as Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, managed to dodge the heaviest accumulations, the interior Northeast and New England saw widespread totals between 6 and 12 inches, as reported by CNN. In the Catskill Mountains of New York, John Marino, co-owner of a local ski shop, described the scene: “It looks like winter wonderland at the moment.” For businesses like his, the early snow was a welcome boost as the ski season began to ramp up.
The storm’s impact was not limited to picturesque snowfall. Hundreds of flights were delayed, and roads became treacherous before sunrise on December 2, with numerous crashes reported across several states. In West Virginia, a dramatic rescue unfolded as a tractor-trailer driver was pulled from his cab after it dangled off a bridge for several hours due to icy conditions. Matt Gregg with Mason County Emergency Management told CNN that local fire and EMS teams had to call in a technical road rescue team to assist, and the driver was successfully brought to safety.
In the Midwest, the storm proved deadly. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a 21-year-old driver was killed when their car slid off the road and overturned near Jefferson City, Missouri, on the evening of December 1. The incident was directly linked to the hazardous road conditions brought on by the storm, which also caused hundreds of crashes and stranded drivers across the state.
By the time the storm reached the Northeast, it had already set records further west. Chicago O’Hare International Airport recorded its highest single calendar day snowfall in November—over 8 inches (20 centimeters)—breaking a record that had stood since 1951, according to the National Weather Service. As the snow moved east, advisories were issued from Ohio to Maine, warning residents of dangerous travel conditions and urging them to stay off the roads if possible.
Winter weather advisories remained active across Ohio, where 3 to 5 inches (7 to 12 centimeters) of snow fell overnight in southern parts of the state. A portion of I-70 West through Cleveland was temporarily closed to clear a crash, and highways around Columbus slowed to a crawl as drivers navigated slick surfaces. In Pennsylvania, troopers responded to 625 crashes and 720 disabled vehicles between 4:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on December 2, according to CNN. The storm delivered a widespread 2 to 4 inches of snow across the state, with some locations like Mill Village in the northwest corner receiving nearly 7 inches.
Vermont also felt the brunt of the storm. State police responded to 50 weather-related wrecks—17 on highways and 33 on smaller roads—resulting in four injuries. The Vermont State Police reminded residents to slow down and leave extra stopping distance, a message echoed by first responders across the region. Snow accumulations in Vermont ranged from a couple of inches to over half a foot in some areas.
New England’s interior was hit hardest, with up to a foot of snow reported near Phoenicia, New York, about 50 miles southwest of Albany. Western Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire saw snow continue to fall at a rate of 1 inch per hour during the height of the storm. In Maine, Lewiston picked up 4 inches, while Boston’s suburbs, including Lowell and Lawrence, saw several hours of snow as temperatures hovered just below freezing. The city of Boston, however, remained mostly rain-soaked, with above-freezing air hugging the coast and preventing significant accumulation.
Air travel was severely affected. Boston Logan International Airport was placed under a ground stop due to high winds from the storm until at least 9:15 p.m. ET on December 2, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. Ground crews at Greater Rochester International Airport in New York faced their own challenges, spending several minutes freeing a tail stand frozen to the tarmac so a Southwest Airlines 737 could depart. Deicing operations became a familiar sight as snow and ice blanketed runways and aircraft.
The storm’s origins traced back to a weaker system over the central U.S., which intensified as it approached the Atlantic coast. Ashton Robinson Cook at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center explained that while such storms are uncommon, they’re not entirely out of the ordinary for this time of year. The system brought not only snow but also a mix of freezing rain and sleet to parts of the region, making for a particularly hazardous commute in places like New York’s capital city of Albany, which recorded 4 to 5 inches of snow by the afternoon.
In New Hampshire, the first wallop of December snow also brought back a lighter tradition: the state’s second annual name-a-plow competition. “We have orange snowplows just waiting for the perfect name,” the Department of Transportation announced on social media, inviting residents to submit their suggestions. Last year’s winner, Ctrl-Salt-Delete, set a high bar for creativity, with this season’s champions to be revealed in January 2026.
As the storm moved offshore Tuesday evening, snow and rain began to taper off across the Northeast. The National Weather Service predicted that all precipitation would end in New England by Wednesday morning’s rush hour, though the aftermath—slick roads, snow piles, and lingering cold—would remain. In the Midwest, the storm’s departure was followed by a blast of arctic air, with temperatures forecast to plunge 15 to 25 degrees below normal and wind chills dropping as low as -25 in parts of the Dakotas and northern Missouri.
For many, the first major snowstorm of December 2025 was a stark reminder of winter’s power and unpredictability. From record-setting snowfalls to dramatic rescues and creative community traditions, the storm left its mark on the region and set the tone for the months ahead.
