The most immediate and disruptive impacts are currently being experienced in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. Beginning Friday night and continuing into Saturday morning, December 27, heavy snow and freezing rain swept across the region, prompting state officials in New York and New Jersey to declare states of emergency. New York City’s Central Park recorded its most significant snowfall since early 2022, creating winter scenes reminiscent of classic East Coast snowstorms. Surrounding areas, including the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and parts of Connecticut, experienced accumulations reaching up to 10 inches. In some areas, the storm even produced “thundersnow,” a rare phenomenon where lightning occurs during heavy snowfall, and snowfall rates spiked to two inches per hour, rendering major highways like I-95, I-80, and I-81 virtually impassable for much of the morning commute and holiday travel.
