On Monday, November 9, 2025, more than 80 million Americans across 13 states woke up to dangerous cold weather, with temperatures dropping 10 to 25 degrees below normal for this time of year. The cold air came from the Arctic after something called the polar vortex—a circle of extremely cold air above the North Pole—broke apart and pushed south into the United States. The storm hit Chicago the hardest, dropping nearly a foot of snow in just six hours.
This occurred when freezing Arctic air collided with the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, creating what weather experts call “lake-effect snow.” Wind gusts reached almost 60 miles per hour, creating whiteout conditions that made it nearly impossible to see while driving.
This early November snowstorm was one of the largest the city has seen in November, ranking among the top five since record-keeping began. Chicago’s biggest November snowstorms were 12 inches in 1895 and 11.2 inches in 2015, making this 2025 storm historically significant. The snow arrived weeks earlier than Chicago’s typical first snowfall, catching residents completely unprepared.
Travel Nightmare and Widespread Impact
The storm caused significant disruptions for travelers and infrastructure nationwide. By Monday morning, O’Hare Airport had canceled 239 flights, while Midway Airport canceled an additional 130 flights, stranding thousands of people. On November 10, airlines canceled more than 1,550 flights nationwide, partly because a government shutdown left air traffic controllers unpaid, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce operations at 40 airports.
In Indianapolis, police responded to more than 50 car crashes on icy roads as drivers struggled with the sudden winter conditions. Schools closed or delayed opening because it wasn’t safe for buses to drive, and families rushed to prepare their homes for the cold.
The freezing weather reached far beyond the Midwest. In Florida, temperatures in Miami dropped from the comfortable mid-80s to the 30s and 40s in just a few days. Palm Beach even issued warnings that the cold could cause iguanas to become immobilized and fall from trees—an unusual problem that only happens during rare cold snaps in the tropical state.
Officials have extended freeze warnings from Texas all the way to Georgia and the Carolinas, affecting people who aren’t accustomed to dealing with winter weather. Western New York received 8 to 12 inches of heavy lake-effect snow, while the storm system brought snow, ice, and freezing temperatures to states from Michigan down to North Carolina.
What’s Causing This and What’s Next
Experts tie this rare early winter storm to La Niña, which they expect will bring more cold and snow to the northern U.S. through early 2026. Scientists note that, paradoxically, a warming climate can intensify winter storms by increasing the moisture in the air and destabilizing the polar vortex.
With 80 million Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving, officials warn of potential further disruptions from harsh weather. Record-breaking cold may reach southern states, and recent deadly storms remind us of the serious risks that can occur when communities are unprepared.
The clear takeaway is that people must take this severe start to winter seriously and prepare for the challenging months ahead.