The Tri-State area saw the season’s first widespread accumulating snowfall on Sunday, December 14, 2025, leaving slick roads, reduced visibility, and cascading travel disruptions across New York City, New Jersey, and nearby suburbs.
Forecasters expected a quick-hitting coastal system to deliver light-to-moderate totals, with 1–3 inches predicted for Manhattan and areas north and west, and 3–6 inches for parts of Staten Island, portions of Queens and Brooklyn, Long Island, and much of central and southern New Jersey.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of New Jersey and a Winter Weather Advisory for New York City and much of the region into Sunday, as snow began late Saturday and continued through Sunday morning.
In Carteret, New Jersey, snow accumulated steadily in cold, breezy conditions, prompting officials to urge residents to limit driving where possible. Public works crews and private contractors deployed plows and salt trucks across streets and parking lots. One worker described the overnight push to keep routes passable: “Yeah, we work almost all night,” said Ambrosio Hernandez.
Transportation networks showed immediate strain. New Jersey Transit reported delays of up to 30 minutes, while the Gladstone Branch rail service was suspended in both directions after downed trees tangled overhead wires near Murray Hill.
Air travel was also affected: Newark Liberty International Airport posted delays of roughly 170 minutes due to snow and ice, and departures at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport were placed under a ground stop as conditions deteriorated during the morning hours.
New York City escalated its response as the snow set in. The Department of Sanitation issued its first Snow Alert of the season, and crews began pre-treating highways with brine to reduce road bonding and limit buildup. Mayor Eric Adams said agencies were positioned for the storm and urged residents to take precautions: “New Yorkers should all prepare too — avoid driving and give yourself extra travel time with public transit if you do need to travel.”
To support snow operations, Adams announced that alternate side parking regulations will be suspended on Monday, while parking meter payment will remain in effect. NYC Emergency Management emphasized that the first accumulating snowfall can catch people off guard, particularly when light snow quickly compresses into slippery layers on untreated sidewalks and secondary streets. “While we are not expecting a major storm, we’re expecting snow will stick to roads and sidewalks,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol, warning that early-season conditions can turn hazardous quickly.
Utilities also tracked storm impacts. Con Edison reported more than 400 customers without power citywide, with the largest concentration in Brooklyn and smaller numbers in the Bronx and Queens.
Conditions were expected to improve by Sunday afternoon, though temperatures were forecast to remain below freezing, raising the risk of refreezing. A bright but frigid Monday was anticipated, followed by a midweek warm-up that could push highs toward near 50 degrees by Thursday.
Officials stressed basic precautions: limit nonessential driving, build extra time into transit plans, dress in warm layers, and avoid unsafe indoor heating practices. Residents were also urged to check on older neighbors and people with access needs and to clear sidewalks carefully to prevent slips and falls.
