Winter’s first major storm of the season barreled through the Northeastern United States this week, leaving behind a wintry tapestry of snow, ice, and rain that stretched from the Central Plains to the coast of Maine. For millions, the storm—dubbed Winter Storm Chan by The Weather Channel—brought not only a dramatic shift in scenery but also a host of travel headaches and safety concerns as December arrived in full force.
According to The Weather Channel, Winter Storm Chan delivered the first significant snowfall of the season to many areas of the interior Northeast before moving offshore by December 2, 2025. Central New York bore the brunt, with snow accumulations reaching up to 12 inches, while Rushville, Indiana, just east of Indianapolis, saw nearly 7 inches blanketing the ground. The storm’s reach was vast: cities from Kansas City and St. Louis to Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Pittsburgh measured between 1 and 5 inches of snow, transforming familiar commutes into slippery, slow-moving affairs. In Indianapolis, the Monday night and Tuesday morning drive turned treacherous, with reports of traffic jams and hazardous conditions.
As reported by NPR, the low-pressure system behind the storm tracked from Pennsylvania to Maine, intensifying as it moved northeast. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the Tuesday evening commute would be especially challenging, with heavy, wet snow and icy roads expected to snarl traffic and heighten accident risks. For some, the storm’s timing couldn’t have been worse, coinciding with the post-Thanksgiving travel rush and catching drivers off guard. "Please use caution if you must travel, make sure your emergency supplies at home and in the car are stocked for the winter, and check in on your neighbors—especially older folks—who may need a hand," Maine Governor Janet Mills urged, according to NPR. Parts of Down East Maine were forecasted to see up to a foot of snow.
The impacts weren’t confined to snow alone. Sleet and freezing rain swept across parts of Arkansas, the southern Appalachians, and even as far north as just west of Boston, with some areas in West Virginia recording over a tenth of an inch of ice. Oklahoma City reported icy overpasses and bridges on Monday morning, while snowy roads led to a spate of wrecks during the morning drive in Kansas City. Even Little Rock, Conway, and Russellville, Arkansas, saw minor ice accumulations on elevated surfaces, highlighting the storm’s diverse precipitation types and far-reaching effects.
In Massachusetts, the storm’s effects varied dramatically by region. As detailed by local forecasts, snow began falling around dawn on December 2 in central and western parts of the state, with light accumulations during the morning commute. The National Weather Service issued Winter Storm Warnings for southern New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and elevated areas in Massachusetts such as the Berkshires and Worcester Hills, where 6 inches or more of snow were anticipated. Meanwhile, Winter Weather Advisories—one step below a full warning—were posted for areas like the Route 495 belt from Haverhill to Marlboro and the Blackstone River Valley in southern Worcester County.
Yet, for much of eastern Massachusetts, rain was the main story, with the rain/snow line hovering near Route 495. Roads north and west of this line quickly became snow-covered, and travel conditions deteriorated throughout the day. By midday, rain dominated in Boston and along the coast, while heavy snow continued to pile up in the Berkshires, northern Worcester County, and across much of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The Tuesday evening commute was forecasted to be particularly treacherous, with a mix of rain and snow falling heavily at times and the rain/snow line shifting northward toward the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. After 7 p.m., winds shifted, and rain changed to wet snow across Worcester, Middlesex, and Essex counties, with 2 to 4 hours of snow expected to wrap up the event between 8 p.m. and midnight.
Snowfall totals told the story of a classic nor’easter, albeit one without the blockbuster winds or coastal flooding often associated with such storms. The highest accumulations—6 to 12 inches—were reported in the Berkshires, northern Worcester County, and much of central and northern New England. Areas just northwest of Route 495 saw 3 to 6 inches, while the Boston area and the immediate North Shore picked up only a coating to an inch, largely at the storm’s tail end. Cape Cod, the Islands, and southeastern Massachusetts saw mostly rain, sparing them from significant snow-related disruptions.
As Winter Storm Chan slid offshore and precipitation tapered off into early Wednesday, December 3, forecasters warned that the hazards were not over. Temperatures remained stubbornly cold, allowing only partial snowmelt during the day and setting the stage for refreezing as the sun set. Black ice, a perennial winter menace, was expected to linger on untreated surfaces for days after the storm’s passage, posing a hidden threat for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Coastal communities in eastern Massachusetts, southern New Jersey, and Delaware faced a different set of worries. Strong wind gusts associated with the departing nor’easter were possible through Wednesday morning, raising the risk of minor coastal flooding during high tide, though the storm’s winds were not as severe as some previous nor’easters. Meanwhile, meteorologists at The Weather Channel noted that the storm might strengthen into a so-called “bomb cyclone” as it raced toward the Canadian Maritimes, but the most significant wind impacts were expected to remain offshore.
The storm’s arrival capped off a week of wintry weather for the region. In the Midwest, heavy snow over the holiday weekend set records in places like Chicago, where between 6 and 11 inches fell, marking the city’s snowiest November day on record. Milwaukee declared a snow emergency as totals ranged from 6 inches to a foot. Across the broader Northeast, federal forecasters predicted that parts of New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could see at least half an inch of snow by Wednesday morning, with the heaviest bands dropping more than an inch per hour in some spots. The Poconos in Pennsylvania to coastal Maine were singled out for the heaviest accumulations, with 5 to 10 inches widely anticipated.
Looking ahead, the winter chill is here to stay. According to local forecasters, a blast of arctic air is expected to sweep through the region following a cold front on Thursday, December 4, sending "feels-like" temperatures below zero Thursday night into Friday. The next chance of rain or snow is already on the horizon for Saturday, December 6, keeping the region firmly in winter’s grip.
For now, residents across the Northeast are digging out, bracing for icy mornings, and keeping a wary eye on the forecast as December’s unpredictable weather continues its march. The first storm of the season may be moving on, but the message is clear: winter has arrived, and it’s not pulling any punches.
