2025–26 North American winter

The 2025–26 North American winter refers to the ongoing winter season during late 2025 to early 2026 in North America. So far, the most significant event of the season was a significant blizzard that affected parts of the Midwestern United States in late November, causing severe disruption to Thanksgiving week travel across the continent. Like the previous winter, a weak La Niña is expected to influence weather patterns across the North American continent during the season.

While there is no well-agreed-upon date used to indicate the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two definitions of winter which may be used. Based on the astronomical definition, winter begins at the winter solstice, which in 2025 will occur on December 21, and ends at the March equinox, which in 2026 will occur on March 20.^[1] Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28.^[2] Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability. Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Since both definitions span the calendar year, it is possible to have a winter storm spanning two different years.

On October 16, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center released its U.S. Winter Outlook.^[3] The temperature and precipitation outlooks reflected the likelihood of a weak La Niña pattern that would continue during most of the winter. The forecast called for warmer than average temperatures across much of the southern United States in addition to the East Coast, as well as the Gulf Coast, with colder than average temperatures in the Northwestern United States. The forecast also called for drier than average conditions across the southern United States, and wetter than average conditions in the northwest and central United States.^[3]

On December 11, 2025, Environment Canada released its winter outlook for December, January and February as part of their monthly climate outlooks. The agency predicted above-average temperatures across regions surrounding the Hudson Bay, including Ontario and Quebec.^[4] Nova Scotia was expected to be both near-average and below average in terms of temperature on the eastern and western parts of the region. Areas further out west in the country near the Great Lakes were expected to experience higher precipitation amounts, while eastern Canada was forecasted to have a more "dynamic season".^[4]

The winter season of 2025–26 began early, with one of the first storms of the season affecting the Sierra Nevada in mid-October, bringing over 2 ft (0.61 m) of snow to the area.^[5] Early November brought a winter storm and a cold temperatures to the Great Lakes and the eastern United States, with the heaviest totals being localized to small areas as a result of lake-effect snow.^[6] By the start of the week of Thanksgiving, the Upper Midwest were affected by a significant blizzard.^[7] Later that week and early December, two winter storms occurred, affecting the Midwest just three days apart from each other.^[8] In mid-December, a winter storm impacted the eastern United States and Atlantic Canada.^[9][10] Another system later that month would bring hurricane-force gusts to the western and central United States,^[11] as well as causing power outages across the United States and Canada.^[12][13][14]

There have been a few winter weather events during the 2025–26 North American winter so far. Significant events include cold waves, snowstorms, and other notable events outside the conventional limits of winter.

A significant early season winter storm dropped heavy lake-effect snowfall near the Great Lakes from November 9–11. Particularly hardest hit included the areas in and around the coastal regions of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan and surrounding regions.^[15] Heavy snowfall totals ranging from 9–12 in (23–30 cm) were reported in the most affected cities where snowfall rates ranged up to 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) an hour.^[6] Chicago broke a daily snowfall record for November 10; with 1.2 inches (3.0 cm) falling, breaking the previous daily record of 0.4 in (1.0 cm) in 1991.^[6] Many flights out of Chicago O'Hare International Airport were delayed or cancelled due to the heavy snowfall. Additionally, roads on many metropolitan roads became impassable at the height of the storm.^[15] Wind gusts up to 58 mph (93 km/h) also accompanied the winter storm closest to the lake near Chicago. Farther east, may other areas in the Northeast, including portions the states of Pennsylvania, New York and parts of New Jersey saw light snowfall accumulation on November 11, marking the first of the season for many.^[16]

The passage of the associated arctic front with the system throughout the eastern half of the United States on November 10 and 11 led to near-record-breaking cold temperatures for the month of November, affecting up to 200 million people.^[16] Freeze warnings and cold weather advisories were issued far south into the Southeast, including Florida. Wind chills as low as −12 °C (10 °F) were reported in the coldest regions. Savannah, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida both saw the coldest November morning since 1976, with temperatures in both cities dropping to −2 °C (28 °F).^[17]

As Thanksgiving week unfolded, a significant blizzard developed across the Upper Midwest of the United States. A cyclone developed over the Rocky Mountains on November 24 and traveled eastward, bringing heavy snowfall and gusty winds to the majority of North and South Dakota, with as much as 8 inches (20 cm) falling and leading to multiple road closures on interstates, including Interstates 94 and 29, in addition to also causing delays.^[18] Very high wind gusts as a result of a pressure gradient between the storm and high pressure to its west also occurred across the Dakotas and surrounding regions, peaking as high as 78 mph (126 km/h) in at least two towns.^[19] Blizzard conditions were also verified in Aberdeen.^[7] The system intensified as it tracked across Minnesota, leading to blizzard warnings being issued for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin, where the heaviest snow totals, enhanced by lake-effect snow, would occur in combination with the high winds.^[7][20] It would attain a pressure of 991 mbar while over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on November 26.^[21] In the morning, a man snowblowing was crushed to death by a downed tree in Alden Township, Minnesota due to high winds and heavy wet snow.^[22] On that evening, there was a report of 23 inches (58 cm) of snow from Brule, Wisconsin. Minnesota saw 250 crashes, 30 causing injuries.^[23] The system would move into Canada on November 27.^[24]

55,000 were without power early that morning across Wisconsin, Michigan, and western New York. A semi tractor-trailer lost control on Interstate 43 outside of Milwaukee and hit two cars, leading to a fatality.^[25] By early the morning of November 28, 22 inches (56 cm) fell in Presque Isle, Wisconsin. 2,200 flights were cancelled due to the storm by the afternoon.^[26] Thousands lost power in southern Ontario, though was restored by midday on November 28.^[27] A total of 33 inches (84 cm) fell in Gile, Wisconsin. Lake-effect snow began to diminish on November 29 and all Lake Affect Snow Warnings expired. Snowfall was reported in the Northeast as well.^[28]

Two more storms followed in quick succession after the previous storm had departed, leading to a wide stretch of accumulating snow from the Plains to northern New England.

Another winter storm impacted the United States right after Thanksgiving. A storm moved into the Pacific Northwest on the night of November 27 and into the Rockies on November 28. The storm had moved out of the Plains early on the morning of November 29. Numerous crashes occurred due to bad road conditions. Iowa State Patrol rescued close to 200 people from ditches by early afternoon while a pileup of 45 vehicles occurred in Indiana on Interstate 70.^[29] In Boone County, Indiana, bad conditions led to a death after a pickup truck slid off the road and hit a tree, catching fire.^[30] An airplane landing at Des Moines skidded off the runway due to icing.^[31] More than 1,900 flights were cancelled.^[29] Chicago set a new record for the snowiest November day with 8.4 inches (21 cm) at O'Hare International Airport and the second highest single-day total at O'Hare since January 1, 2015.^[32] Madison, Wisconsin and Springfield, Illinois also had the snowiest November day on record. Waterloo and Cedar Falls in Iowa had the most snow from a storm on record for November or earlier in fall.^[33] By November 30, 15 inches (38 cm) of snow had fallen near Fort Dodge, Iowa as snow continued in New York and New England.^[34] Fort Dodge would end up with 16.5 inches (42 cm) and snowfall in New England tapered off as the system moved into southeastern Canada and the Maritimes.^[35] 33 centimetres (13 in) was reported in the Stanley Park area of Kitchener, Ontario.^[36] Many ferry crossings in Atlantic Canada were cancelled on December 1 due to adverse weather conditions.^[37]

Yet another winter storm impacted the Midwest as well as the eastern United States and Atlantic Canada in early December. Parts of the Midwest saw snow and ice accumulations on December 1. 3–5 inches (7.6–12.7 cm) of snow was seen in Kansas City. Roads in some areas of Oklahoma and Arkansas had a glaze of ice. Indianapolis police reported over 150 crashes since the snow began on November 30.^[38] Slick conditions caused many crashes, including four resulting in injuries and one leading to a fatality, in the evening along State Highway 179 in Missouri.^[39] New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, declared a state of emergency for several counties in northwestern New Jersey which took effect at 5 A.M. EST on December 2.^[40] Snow fell across the Ohio Valley and the Northeast, with 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) of snow falling in parts of Pennsylvania to southern Vermont.^[8] 17.3 inches (44 cm) fell in Cattaraugus, New York.^[41] Freezing rain led to ice accumulations across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with 0.40 inches (1.0 cm) of ice near Durbin, West Virginia.^[42] The main precipitation for the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston was rain. Nantucket saw a gust of 53 miles per hour (85 km/h).^[8] Pennsylvania State Police responded to over 280 motor vehicle crashes and about 300 disabled motorists across Pennsylvania. Almost 7,000 flights were delayed and nearly 250 were cancelled in the United States.^[41] More than 2,200 power outages occurred in Connecticut.^[43] The system strengthened as it moved towards the Canadian Maritimes late on December 2,^[42] becoming a bomb cyclone.^[8] Strong winds on the morning of December 3 led to almost 30,000 homes and businesses losing power across Nova Scotia.^[44] Mainly rain fell on the Atlantic side of Nova Scotia, with 37–55 millimetres (1.5–2.2 in) of rain reported in the Halifax Area. Snowfall occurred elsewhere in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with an estimated 30 centimetres (12 in) reported in Springhill, Nova Scotia.^[45] Strong winds, rain, and snow contributed to 13 motor vehicle accidents on Cape Breton, with one resulting in a death.^[46] The storm continued to intensify as it passed south of Newfoundland, attaining a pressure of 972 mbar late on December 3.^[47] Sporadic power outages and several road accidents occurred in Newfoundland.^[48]

Throughout the first half of the month of December, the disruption of the polar vortex created a pattern in which bitterly cold temperatures spilled south into the United States, leading to many places experiencing their coldest start to the month of December in years.^[49][50]

A winter storm in mid-December then brought another round of arctic air across the Midwest in its wake.^[51] Extreme cold warnings were in effect until the afternoon of December 14.^[52] Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport saw temperatures of −10 °F (−23 °C) on the morning of December 14, with some areas as low as −22 °F (−30 °C).^[29] Cold temperatures also occurred in Fargo, North Dakota which saw −29 °F (−34 °C), as well as Milwaukee which saw −15 °F (−26 °C).^[52] Extreme Cold Watches were in place on the morning of December 14 from eastern Georgia to the Carolinas. Cold weather advisories were in effect for parts of southeastern Georgia and southwestern North Carolina as well.^[52]

A major winter storm affected the Midwest and the Northeastern United States in mid-December. The winter storm impacted the Midwest on December 13. The system originated near the Canada–United States border on December 12 as a disturbance along an arctic front that was quickly moving southeastwards towards the Great Plains. After dropping a wide swath of moderate snowfall stretching from the state of North Dakota to Ohio the following day, the system eventually redeveloped off the coast of the Delmarva Peninsula overnight as a coastal low on December 13–14, bringing widespread snowfall accumulations of 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) across the Mid-Atlantic and New England states, ending by the afternoon.^[53]

The snowfall led to dangerous conditions on roads in Illinois.^[54] Interstate 55 was closed near Springfield, Illinois due to a multi-vehicle crash that in a fatality.^[55] Another multi-vehicle crash resulted in a death on Interstate 57 due to slick conditions.^[56] The winter storm left at least 2,000 people without power in Mercer County, New Jersey on December 14.^[57] About 41,100 people across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio lost power.^[58] In New York City, the 1, A and R lines experienced delays.^[59] Central Park recorded their earliest in-season inch of snow since December 2, 2019.^[60] Ground stops were implemented at both John F. Kennedy International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.^[61] Perrysburg, New York, saw 23.7 inches (60 cm) of snow.^[9] In Atlantic Canada, where the storm struck after rapidly intensifying, warnings were issued in most of Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador. Northern Newfoundland were under orange winter storm or wind warnings as well as a coastal flooding statement for the eastern and northeastern coastline.^[10] Health services were cancelled or had delayed openings.^[62] Two ferries were cancelled for December 16.

Between December 17 and December 20, 2025 a historic and multifaceted weather event that impacted the Western and Central United States. The event was characterized by hurricane-force wind gusts, record-breaking winter temperatures, and a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" (PDS) for wildfire risk in Colorado and Kansas. The storm effected Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas as well. 16 states were affected.^[11]

This is a table of all of the events that have occurred in the 2025–26 North American winter. It includes their duration, damage, impacted locations, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. All of the damage figures are in 2025 USD.

• 2025–26 European windstorm season
• 2025–26 Asian winter
• Tornadoes of 2025
• Weather of 2025

• 2025 Storm Summaries from the Weather Prediction Center