Winter Storm Warning Announced for 24 Inches of Snow, 60 mph Winds on New Year's

A new year is approaching, and it's shaping up to be an active one for weather in the U.S., as the National Weather Service (NWS) has announced winter weather warnings going from Tuesday, Dec. 30, into the rest of the week.

A strong winter storm continues to hit the Midwest and Northeast, with the NWS reporting that areas of the Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and upstate New York are looking at getting anywhere from 24 to 60 inches of snow by Friday, Jan. 2, due to lake-effect snow, and strong winds.

So, as we ring in 2026, the NWS has issued winter storm warnings and advisories impacting multiple states, even beyond the Midwest and Northeast. Many of those warnings will hit travelers coming back from holiday destinations.

Winter Storm Warnings for an Upwards of 60 Inches of Snow

Sixty inches of snow is a crazy amount, but according to research from AccuWeather, some areas of the U.S. are in line to get just that before Friday, Jan. 2. The wintry conditions are due to lake-effect snow and a clipper storm.

"Lake-effect snow will persist across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and upstate New York, with up to 48-60 inches possible in total near the Great Lakes by Friday," AccuWeather reported in a message to Men's Journal. "A fast-moving clipper system will trigger additional snow in the Midwest and portions of the Northeast, potentially coating Chicago and New York City with flakes around midnight on New Year's Eve."

"For airline passengers, the big three airports in the Midwest—Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis—will have the most direct weather impacts due to snow, wind and Arctic cold," Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, added.

"Lake effect snow totals of 3-6 inches were seen west of US131 with isolated pockets of 7-8 inches Sunday and Monday," the NWS in Grand Rapids reported on Tuesday, Dec. 30. "Further inland, snow totals were generally on the order of 1-4 inches. However, widespread blowing snow with winds of 50-60 mph brought travel impacts areawide."

Cold Weather Down South

Even the Southern states are in line to get a cold start to 2026. According to AccuWeather, from Louisiana to Florida, temperatures will drop near their lowest numbers since mid-December, and interior areas could have frost or freeze conditions. Specifically, central Florida is at risk for near-freezing temperatures.

"This is a true Arctic blast to close out 2025," Alyssa Glenny, AccuWeather meteorologist, said. "Relentless winds and blowing snow have sent AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures tumbling to dangerous levels in some areas."

Glenny added, "Lake-effect snow and quick-hitting clipper storms will bring more snow to parts of the Midwest and Northeast heading into the new year. Brief bursts of snow falling on frozen slush and icy patches can create slippery streets and sidewalks. The combination of blowing snow, rapid reductions in visibility, and slick asphalt can increase the risk of spinouts and crashes this week."