Powerful coast-to-coast storm kicks off December with major impacts from heavy snow to ice across the nation
The cross-country storm tracks through Wednesday into the Northeast, likely posing threats of snow, ice and rain to airports, roadways and communities along its path.
A powerful coast-to-coast storm is setting December off to an active start as it will bring threats of ice, snow and rain
December is off to an active start as a powerful coast-to-coast storm originating from the Rockies will make its way to the Northeast by tomorrow morning. Expect more travel disruptions with airports in the Midwest, as the snow accumulates on top of the record post-Thanksgiving winter storm that just slammed the region over the weekend.
Closely following a major winter storm that unleashed travel chaos during the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend, meteorological winter kicked off this week with a powerful coast-to-coast storm delivering a wide range of impacts.
The cross-country storm began Sunday in the Rockies and tracks through Wednesday morning into the Northeast, likely posing threats of snow, ice and rain to airports, roadways and communities along its path.
December storm outlook map
(FOX Weather)
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Monday: Storm gains strength as it moves into the Plains
The storm moves into the Plains, where Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit could see even more snow just days after the record Thanksgiving weekend snowstorm swept across the Midwest.
![People walking through heavy snow in Chicago on Saturday.]()
Image 1 of 7People walking through heavy snow in Chicago on Saturday. (Robert Ray)
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Image 2 of 7The Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Indiana responded to 12 motor vehicle crashes in the span of two hours on Saturday as snow continues to fall in the Midwest. (Putnam County Sheriff's Office)
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Image 3 of 7A multi-car pile up in Grant County, Indiana on I-69 resulted in a temporary road closure. (Grant County Sheriff's Office)
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Image 4 of 7People shovel snow on saturday morning in Des Moines, Iowa. (FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel)
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Image 5 of 7Several slide offs and crashes closed I-70 westbound between the 13 and 15-mile markers, near Terre Haute, Indiana (Indiana Department of Transportation: West Central)
![Photo shows a driveway and cars covered in snow in O'Fallon, MO.]()
Image 6 of 7Photo shows a driveway and cars covered in snow in O'Fallon, MO. (Rebecca Witte Smith/Facebook )
![A snow-covered back porch in O'Fallon, MO during a major winter storm on Nov. 29, 2025.]()
Image 7 of 7A snow-covered back porch in O'Fallon, MO during a major winter storm on Nov. 29, 2025. (Rebecca Witte Smith/Facebook )
3-5 inches of snow could fall from northern Missouri into northern Illinois.
Snow will also extend into the Ohio River Valley, expecting to see snow accumulations of 1-3 inches.
Chicago snow forecast through Tuesday
(FOX Weather)
Ice poses a bigger concern for major interstates in Arkansas and Oklahoma as the cold arctic air lingers.
Cities such as Tulsa, Little Rock and Fort Smith are in the threat zone for patchy snow and potential ice disruptions.
Major interstate impacts on Monday morning
(FOX Weather)
ARCTIC BLAST TO IMPACT 235 MILLION FROM DECEMBER DEEP FREEZE
Tuesday through Wednesday: Mid-Atlantic to Northeast See Impacts
The storm will take off through the Northeast, bringing mainly rain with a wintry mix to the Mid-Atlantic and New England.
Threats of ice are likely in West Virginia and the Virginia mountains, as potentially snow or rain will impact parts of the Northeast.
Snow forecast projection for the East
(FOX Weather)
Colder air is expected to bring snow inland of Maine and Pennsylvania, with portions of the Poconos and central New England likely reaching over 6 inches of snow through Wednesday morning.
The FOX Forecast Center says that the path of the storm will still have major implications on who will see rain or snow.
Stay with FOX Weather for continued coverage as we track this coast-to-coast storm and impacts to come.