Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Winter Storm Ezra Buries Midwest, Hits Northeast Hard

1/3/2026

28 4 Full Breakdown

Center

Winter Storm Ezra

Winter storm Ezra affected the Midwest and Northeast from December 29, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Ezra brought snow, ice, and strong winds that created dangerous travel conditions.
In Michigan, nearly 2 feet of snow fell.
In New York, blizzard conditions formed with wind gusts reaching 81 mph.
The storm moved east, causing outages for more than 127,000 customers and leaving bitter cold temperatures and more snowfall in Northeast.

Left

Andrew Orrison Warns

A severe winter storm has left the eastern United States with Arctic air, temperatures 20 degrees below normal.
This cold snap follows the storm that caused blizzard conditions in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.
Meteorologist Andrew Orrison says the Northeast will face the coldest temperatures of the year.
An Alberta clipper will bring 1 to 3 feet of lake-effect snow to western and central New York.

History

Historical Context

The Great Blizzard of 1888, occurring from March 11 to 14, was one of the deadliest blizzards in U.S. history, claiming over 400 lives and burying cities under up to 55 inches of snow. This catastrophic event paralyzed transportation and communication, prompting significant infrastructure improvements, including the underground placement of telegraph and railway lines, and advancements in weather forecasting and emergency response systems.

1 of 3

Winter Storm Ezra

Winter storm Ezra affected the Midwest and Northeast from December 29, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Ezra brought snow, ice, and strong winds that created dangerous travel conditions.
In Michigan, nearly 2 feet of snow fell.
In New York, blizzard conditions formed with wind gusts reaching 81 mph.
The storm moved east, causing outages for more than 127,000 customers and leaving bitter cold temperatures and more snowfall in Northeast.

1 / 3