The Midwest experienced a sharp return to bone-chilling cold following a storm that drenched the East Coast. On Thursday, freezing temperatures gripped the Upper Midwest after a powerful storm brought strong winds and heavy rain to New England, causing power outages, melting snow, and disrupting ski resorts.
Early Thursday, parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin recorded wind chills well below zero Fahrenheit (minus 17.8 degrees Celsius). The National Weather Service reported a low of minus 27 F (minus 32.7 C) near Inger, Minnesota. Farther south, wind chills in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa dropped to the single digits. In Chicago, winds exceeding 40 mph (64 kph) combined with a low of 4 F (minus 15.5 C) at O’Hare International Airport, resulting in a biting wind chill of minus 28 F (minus 33.3 C). The city set up more than two dozen warming shelters and advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.
Freezing spray warnings were issued for Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, where subzero temperatures and high winds caused ice to accumulate on vessels at a rate of up to an inch per hour.
Meanwhile, an atmospheric river on Wednesday brought moisture from the tropics, dumping heavy rain across the East. Portland, Maine, set a new rainfall record for the date, with 2.33 inches (5.92 cm) surpassing the 1887 record of 2.01 inches (5.1 cm). In Maine, winds exceeding 50 mph (80 kph) caused widespread outages, leaving nearly 90,000 customers without power as of Thursday morning.
Although forecasters were concerned about the storm developing into a bomb cyclone—defined by rapid intensification—it fell short of meeting the criteria, according to meteorologists.
In Vermont, ski businesses like Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier faced challenges as melting snow impacted sales. Jen Roberts, a co-owner, remarked on the region’s unpredictable weather, saying, “This is New England. We know this is what happens.” Ski resort operators also lamented the timing, with Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire enduring heavy rain. Marketing director Jamie Cobbett optimistically said, “We’ll put the mountain back together.” Skiers like Marcus Caston adapted to the conditions, finding softer snow enjoyable despite the rain.
Seasonal cold suitable for snowmaking returned Thursday. Snowfall resumed near the Great Lakes, with Michigan anticipating heavy lake-effect snow. Northern New York braced for up to 3 feet (0.9 meters) of lake-effect snow and wind gusts reaching 45 mph (72 kph), creating near whiteout conditions. Schools and libraries closed early, while snowplows worked to clear roads.
Buffalo and surrounding areas faced heavy lake-effect snow again on Thursday, with over a foot of accumulation in some spots. Driving bans were enacted in two towns, and the Buffalo Bills canceled practice. Forecasts indicated up to 3 feet of snow by Friday.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in several counties ahead of the snowstorm. New England, meanwhile, saw a mix of weather, including freezing rain, heavy rain, and unseasonable warmth, with Portland reaching 50 F (10 C). Boston college student Alex Hobbs worried about potential travel delays due to the storm, expressing concerns about heavy wind, rain, and possible snow.
