January 5–6, 2025 United States blizzard

The January 5–6, 2025 United States blizzard was a significant and expansive winter weather event that produced blizzard conditions across the High Plains, as well as a long swath of accumulating snow and ice storm to the eastern half of the United States in early January 2025. Beginning on January 3, the system first made landfall along the northern West Coast of the United States before tracking southeastward, bringing severe winter conditions to multiple regions all the way to the Mid-Atlantic states and prompting numerous state emergency declarations. The storm system also produced 2025's first tornado, which touched down in northern California, before producing several more tornadoes within the Deep South a few days later on January 5. Most impacts from the storm ended by January 6 after the winter storm moved offshore into the Atlantic Ocean. The system was unofficially nicknamed Winter Storm Blair by the Weather Channel.
Winter storm advisories issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) throughout January 3 extended approximately 1,500 mi (2,400 km) from western Kansas to West Virginia, marking one of the most extensive winter weather warning areas in the 2024–25 North American winter season up to the beginning of 2025. Approximately 365,000 people were estimated to have lost power as a result of the blizzard, and the city of Richmond, Virginia, experienced a water outage and ensuing crisis due to damage sustained to water distribution facilities from the storm. The winter storm was also deadly, as at least 10 people were confirmed to have been killed as a result as well.
On January 2, 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a forecast that warned of an approaching major winter storm expected to impact several regions of the continental United States, describing it as a "brutal mess". The NWS forecast outlined expectations for heavy snowfall and significant icing across several geographical regions, ranging from the central Great Plains to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, before reaching the Mid-Atlantic region. The forecast predicted 60-90 percent chance of accumulations reaching at least 6 in (15 cm) in the central Great Plains and central Mississippi Valley regions, and a significant icing event primarily impacting eastern Kansas through the Ozarks before impacting the lower Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and the southern Appalachians. The system itself originated in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, and first made landfall during the afternoon on January 3 along the West Coast of the United States.
By January 4, a low-pressure system organized over the Texas Panhandle region and Oklahoma. This system interacted with below-average temperatures already established across the Central Plains and Midwest. A "potent" mid-level low was forecast to track from Kansas to Virginia and North Carolina over a 48-hour period. The system's warm side was predicted to generate severe thunderstorm conditions across the Lower Mississippi Valley, causing the Storm Prediction Center to issue an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) from northeastern Louisiana into western Mississippi for January 5, with potential for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging straight-line winds.
Major U.S. airlines, including United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, implemented fee waivers for flight changes during the event.
On January 4, the NWS issued a blizzard warning for eastern Kansas and in western Missouri, including the northern Kansas City metropolitan area. The warning was later extended to central Kansas and southern Nebraska.
Meteorologist for Fox Weather Bob Van Dillen expressed warnings for freezing rain across the Midwest, which he stated would likely bring down several power lines and cause widespread power outages when coupled with wind estimates of 20–30 mph (32–48 km/h). He also warned of a weakening polar jet stream resulting in a polar vortex that could potentially move Arctic air as far south as the Mississippi Valley.
On 4 January, Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency in anticipation of dangerous road conditions, widespread power outages, and sustained freezing temperatures. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued warnings for residents to avoid road travel due to projected hazardous conditions brought on by freezing rain and icing. The Christian Wayside Mission and the Salvation Army in Louisville opened warming shelters for the homeless.
On 5 January, Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice issued a state of emergency in all 55 counties of the state.
Following snow warnings of 6–12 in (15–30 cm), Jacksonville and South Jacksonville, IL, issued snow emergencies, and emphasized that vehicles parked on emergency snow routes would be towed.
Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin issued a state of emergency on 3 January.
Multiple Maryland school districts issued schedule changes for students in order to avoid severe weather. Governor of Maryland Wes Moore issued a State of Preparedness extending from 5–6 January. Schools in Philadelphia closed on January 6 due to the snow.
The NWS issued winter storm warnings for Northern Virginia, central Maryland, and the Washington D.C. area at 3:54 pm EST on 4 January, with the predicted impact extending over 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers).
After making landfall along the northern West Coast of the continental United States, valley areas in Eastern Washington experienced freezing rain during the afternoon and evening of 3 January, while widespread snowfall accumulated in mountainous regions across Washington and Montana.
In Northern California, the winter storm system produced a tornado near Paynes Creek and Shingletown, which FOX Weather reported was the first United States tornado in 2025. The tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service's Sacramento office at approximately 5:30 pm PST who issued a tornado warning for Shasta and Tehama counties, and was captured on video by a University of California, San Diego camera. The tornado resulted in no reported damage or injuries. The winter storm also brought heavy snow and strong winds to the northern California region, and produced quarter-size hail at higher elevations.
Travel advisories were issued in Montana due to heavy snowfall in mountainous areas in conjunction with strong wind gusts. Nearly all regions of Montana were impacted by heavy snowfall, with cold weather advisories issued across northeast Montana.
On 4 January, Utah was impacted by a "potent but quick moving cold front" that brought snowfall and 50 mph wind gusts in the Wasatch Front region, leading to travel advisories along several international and state highways in central and northern Utah. Freezing rain fell in Kansas and Missouri, which led to thick road icing and several dozen traffic accidents. In Kansas, a vehicle rollover occurred on US-54 in Wichita, while several more accidents occurred near Salina. Governor of Kansas Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster emergency amid the storm's precipitation causing several traffic collisions and road closures with most major highways and interstates in the Kansas City area being closed for the 48 hours surrounding the storm.
During the afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs were delayed a few hours from departing the Kansas City International Airport due to airport closure by NOTAM, as a result of the winter storm producing freezing drizzle on the airfield. This came before their game against the Denver Broncos the next day.
On 5 January, a woman was found dead in Kansas City after being reported missing the prior day as severe winter weather impacted the region. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that one person was killed and another injured due to road icing, after their vehicle collided with a jackknifed trailer while driving eastbound on US-56.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport received eight inches of snowfall— a record amount— leading to dozens of cancelled flights.
On 6 January, the Indiana State Police stated that they received reports of 259 vehicle collisions and reports of 271 vehicles that had slid off roadways. The Indianapolis District state police reported that 151 crashes were reported— of which 12 resulted in injuries— and that they had to respond to 100 disabled or stuck vehicles.
At 6:30 PM EST on 5 January, readings from PowerOutage.us indicated that 41,284 customers were suffering from power outages, with the most present in Warren and Henderson County. On 6 January, half of Magoffin County customers were without power due to downed power lines.
On 6 January, the Maryland State Police reported that they had received 475 service calls between 1 AM EST to midday, which included 156 unattended vehicles and 123 crashes. Baltimore received 6.6 in (17 cm) of snow, which was the biggest snowfall there in three years.
Virginia State Police reported 248 crashes requiring their response, noting that not all accidents were necessarily related to the winter storm. Reagan National Airport shut down their runways late on January 6 due to the snowfall.
On both 6 and 7 January, the United States Office of Personnel Management closed federal offices in the Washington DC area and put maximum telework for employees in effect.
Across the Delaware Valley, accumulations were heaviest across the southern parts of the region, with only 1.8 in (4.6 cm) of snow in Philadelphia. At Philadelphia International Airport, over 380 flights were delayed, and 80 were cancelled. In the Atlantic City area, and along the Jersey Shore, however, up to 7 inches of snow were recorded.
In Richmond, Virginia a boil-water advisory was put in place due to impacts to the water facilities during the storm; Henrico also later issued an advisory. Power was impacted in Richmond and Henrico. A boil water advisory was later issued in Hanover County, for residents east of I-95, and for certain Goochland and Chesterfield residents.
The winter storm also brought severe weather across the country, primarily in the Southeast with 14 tornadoes confirmed.