Storms, showers, tornados: weather disrupts New Year’s Eve

With 2025 just days away, AccuWeather meteorologists have unveiled their New Year’s Eve forecast, helping revelers across the nation brace for Mother Nature’s plans. The Northeast, Midwest, and parts of the West Coast could face unsettled weather as the clock ticks toward midnight.

“We’re tracking multiple storms moving across the eastern U.S. in the final days of December and early January,” said AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok. One of these systems could arrive just in time for New Year’s Eve, possibly bringing a mix of rain and snow to New York City.

Rain or Snow for Times Square?

Pastelok highlighted the potential for precipitation in the Northeast, depending on the storm’s timing. “A storm arriving on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day could bring rain and snow to the region, with rain farther south,” he said. Rain showers may dampen celebrations in Times Square, but the exact timing remains uncertain.

Cities like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., may also contend with wet weather during their festivities. Meanwhile, in Chicago and Detroit, slower storm movement could result in precipitation lingering past midnight.

Winter Classic and Regional Temperatures

Sports fans attending the NHL Winter Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field should prepare for chilly weather. The puck drops at 5 p.m. ET, with forecasters predicting a chance of rain or snow showers and highs in the upper 30s.

Across the Great Lakes and Northeast, temperatures are expected to hover several degrees above average, ranging from the 30s to lower 40s. However, colder air could sweep in sooner if the storm speeds up, driving temperatures lower than anticipated.

The northern Plains and Upper Midwest will likely avoid bone-chilling cold, while mild weather is forecast for the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Dry conditions are expected from the Southwest into the Plains, offering a reprieve for those regions.

West Coast Wet Weather

In the Northwest, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, will remain stuck in the rainy pattern that has dominated December. Rain is expected to persist or arrive around the start of the new year, making dry celebrations unlikely.

In contrast, cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego are poised for perfect fireworks conditions, with dry and mild weather in the forecast.

Snow Showers for the Rockies

Snow showers are expected in the high elevations of the northern and central Rockies from New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day, but accumulation is likely to be minimal.

Whether you’re bundling up in the Northeast or soaking in mild weather in the Southwest, 2025 promises a variety of weather across the nation as celebrations usher in the new year.