As the final days of 2025 drew to a close, a relentless winter storm system—dubbed Winter Storm Ezra—unleashed its fury across the northern United States, leaving a trail of snowdrifts, power outages, and travel chaos from Minnesota to upstate New York. For millions of Americans, the storm was a reminder that winter’s bite can be both sudden and severe. Residents, officials, and utility crews braced for days of hazardous conditions, with some regions seeing record-breaking wind gusts and snowfall measured in feet rather than inches.
According to USA Today Network and the National Weather Service, the storm began its march on Sunday, December 28, 2025, first sweeping through the upper Midwest. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, an arctic cold front transformed a mild rain into a snow-laden tempest. North of I-90, snowfall totals reached 6 to 8 inches, while strong northwest winds gusted between 35 and 55 mph. These winds whipped up blizzard conditions and towering snowdrifts—some as high as five feet—mainly west of the Mississippi River Valley. The Minnesota Department of Transportation issued a stark warning: “No travel in southeast Minnesota.” Roads quickly became treacherous, with numerous accidents and vehicles sliding off the icy pavement. Cleanup was hampered by frigid temperatures and a stubborn layer of ice beneath the accumulating snow.
As Ezra pressed eastward, its full force was felt in Western and Central New York starting Monday, December 29. The storm’s signature was its volatile mix: damaging wind gusts, relentless lake-effect snow, and a glaze of ice that made every step and mile perilous. At its peak, more than 114,000 customers lost power, according to New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E). By Tuesday morning, December 30, about 3,200 customers were still waiting for the lights to come back on—testament to the storm’s strength and the tireless work of over 525 line and contract crews deployed statewide.
The winds were nothing short of extraordinary. The National Weather Service reported a gust of 79 mph at Buffalo Niagara International Airport late Monday morning, while Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport clocked 60 mph. These hurricane-force gusts toppled trees, downed power lines, and left thousands in the dark. “Plow crews, emergency management teams, and utility personnel continue to work to keep New Yorkers safe, and we stand ready to deploy additional resources wherever they are needed throughout the storm,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. She expanded New York’s State of Emergency statewide, urging residents to monitor forecasts, avoid travel, and stay prepared.
Travel restrictions became the order of the day. The New York State Thruway (I-90) imposed a ban on tandem trailers and empty trucks from Exit 46 (Rochester–Corning–I-390) to the Pennsylvania state line, as well as on several other major highways. Orleans County Sheriff Christopher M. Bourke issued a travel advisory, warning: “Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel due to downed trees, fallen power lines, and hazardous driving conditions.” For those who had no choice but to venture out, the advice was simple: use extreme caution.
Snowfall totals were staggering in some areas. Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and southern Erie counties faced a Winter Storm Warning from Monday afternoon through early Friday, with forecasters predicting 1 to 3 feet of snow and wind gusts up to 65 mph. Wayne and northern Cayuga counties were also bracing for up to 3 feet, while Madison, Northern Oneida, Onondaga, and Southern Oneida counties—including the city of Syracuse—could see 1 to 2 feet, with localized amounts approaching 3 feet. The heaviest snow was expected Monday night through Tuesday evening, a period marked by frequent whiteout conditions and life-threatening travel hazards.
In Rochester and Buffalo, the forecast called for about 8 inches of snow through Wednesday, but just a few miles away, some communities were digging out from much more. Monroe County, for example, saw only a few tenths of an inch on December 30, while areas to the south and east expected several more inches before the day’s end. The wind, meanwhile, refused to let up—gusts over 30 mph out of the west continued to drive lake-effect snow into Wayne and Wyoming counties, with more expected as the week wore on. “There’s more snow in the forecast Wednesday,” reported WROC in Rochester. “Flakes finally taper by Wednesday night and early Thursday. The New Year will start cold.”
For many, the storm was more than just a weather event—it was a logistical challenge. Utility companies urged residents to report outages directly, stay warm safely with blankets and layered clothing, and avoid risky behaviors like using stoves or grills indoors. They also advised keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed, using flashlights instead of candles, and checking on neighbors, especially those who might need help. Real-time outage maps and hotlines became lifelines for those waiting in the cold and dark.
Central New York, including Syracuse, was particularly hard-hit. The storm arrived late Monday, December 29, and by Tuesday morning, local officials had closed city offices and courts. A multi-vehicle crash shut down northbound I-81 in Syracuse, underscoring the dangers of travel during blizzard-like conditions. The National Weather Service warned that two or more feet of snow could fall in Syracuse and its northern suburbs through Wednesday, with lake-effect snow bands shifting unpredictably and threatening even higher totals where they lingered.
Meanwhile, back in the Midwest, the aftermath of the storm was still being felt. Though conditions gradually improved through Monday morning, December 29, the cleanup was slow and arduous. The icy underlayer made shoveling a chore and driving a gamble. Yet, as is often the case in the heartland, neighbors helped neighbors, and the rhythm of daily life resumed, albeit more cautiously.
Looking ahead, meteorologists warned that bitter cold would persist through the first weekend of the new year, with more lake-effect snow likely for Wayne County and areas east of Lake Erie into Wyoming County. Several more inches of snow were expected through Saturday, January 4, 2026, and the message from officials remained unchanged: stay alert, stay off the roads if possible, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Winter Storm Ezra may have been just one of many storms to sweep across the northern states, but its impact was a vivid reminder of nature’s power and the resilience of the communities in its path. As plows cleared the last drifts and the lights flickered back on, residents from Minnesota to New York could finally exhale—at least until the next snowflake fell.
