First big snow storm to hit US as polar vortex sends coldest air yet

Forecasters say the first snow storm of the season to take aim at major Northeast cities will dump several inches of snow over the weekend, followed by a bitter Arctic blast courtesy of the polar vortex.

The cold won't last, as forecasters expect winter reprieve in the form of a coast-to-coast mild spell, which could doom dreams of a White Christmas for millions.

But first, the weekend storm will spread light to moderate amounts of snow across the central and northeastern U.S.

NFL weather games: Football played in adverse conditions ❄️🌧️

Calling it a 'baby Nor'easter," Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue said in an email to USA TODAY that a huge population will see at least 3 inches of snowfall from the storm.

On Sunday Dec. 14, "Snowfall could be heavy in a burst of 3-6 hours and add up 3 inches to 6 inches – maybe more," he said.

By the time the storm is over later Sunday Dec. 14, 1 to 6 inches of snow will have fallen along a 1,500-mile swath from the northern Plains to the shores of southern New England, according to anonline forecast from AccuWeather. The storm will focus along much of Interstate 70 in the Ohio Valley region and then along the heavily populated I-95 corridor from Maryland to Massachusetts.

Harper Martinez, 13, plays with her 1-year-old dog, Franky, in the snow on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A hawk sits on a snow covered tree at Brown Deer Park in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, Dec. 1, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Chery Madole shops for a Christmas tree on Dec. 1, 2025, at Howell Tree Farm in Cumming, Iowa.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Snow collects on the snout of Coco, 4, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Looking north along Southern Parkway after an early winter storm coated Louisville, Kentucky, with several inches of wet snow on Dec. 2, 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A pair of cattle feed in a snowy field off of North Fir Road on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Mishawaka, Indiana.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> After snow fell overnight, Traffic moved slowly on the 64 east bound in the Portland neighborhood of metro Louisville, Kentucky area Tuesday morning Dec. 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Richard Fouts shoveled his driveway in Audubon Park the morning after an early winter storm dumped several inches of wet snow on Louisville. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jack, a Jack Russell terrier, wore a coat as he walked along 29th Street in the Portland neighborhood of metro Louisville, Kentucky area Tuesday morning Dec. 2, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Carolyn Goodman, 74, brushes off the snow of her car in the Portland neighborhood of metro Louisville, Kentucky area Tuesday morning Dec. 2, 2025. She said she got called off of work due to the snow but was preparing to go in tomorrow.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Megan Brake and her Labradoodle, Nym, walk along the snow-covered sidewalks of Audubon Park on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, after an early winter storm dropped several inches of wet snow on Louisville.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

More snow pummels Midwest. See the winter storm's impact

Harper Martinez, 13, plays with her 1-year-old dog, Franky, in the snow on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.

'Mother lode of cold air' headed for US

The long-awaited blast of bitterly cold Arctic air will spread across the north-central U.S. Saturday Dec. 13. And it's headed toward the East and South.

"There is a massive area of air in northwestern Canada where temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and it is on its way southeastward into the U.S.,"AccuWeather chief on-air meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in an online forecast. "This is the mother lode of cold air and is a term I don't use lightly."

"Cold high pressure will spread much below normal temperatures across the Midwest, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and all the way to the Gulf Coast early Monday Dec. 15, with temperatures 15 to 30 degrees below normal, the National Weather Service said.

A few record lows are possible, and wind chills may dip as low as the teens as far south as the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coasts Sunday night/Monday morning, theweather service said.

Theweather service in Columbia, South Carolina,issued an "extreme cold watch" for the region, warning that "an extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes. Be sure to protect outdoor faucets and drip water to help prevent ruptured pipes."

Snow storm forecast: How much will it snow?

Wondering how much snow is in the forecast? USA TODAY'sdetailed winter weather forecast mapbelow lets you explore where snow is expected over the next few hours and days.

Forecast predicts December thaw

However, theweather service saidthat a weather system over the Western U.S. will allow temperatures to reach 15 degrees to 25 degrees above seasonal averages, spreading east across much of the lower 48 for midweek and beyond, "creating a December thaw."

"While it may feel like Christmastime already with the cold and snow, the bitterly cold pattern is not expected to last through the holidays," said AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

The vast snow cover still being added to by the storm pattern through this weekend is likely to be eroded by higher temperatures before Christmas, AccuWeather said. This could wreak havoc with dreams of a white Christmas for millions.

"Don't assume because it is cold and snowy now that it will be so on Christmas Day," Pastelok said in an online forecast. "Skiers and snowboarders should take advantage of the cold air and fresh powder at the slopes that are open in the Appalachians. Ski and boarding conditions could deteriorate over Christmas week at some resorts as warmer air moves in."

In the meantime, those wanting warmth or at least warm thoughts through this weekend can look to the Florida Peninsula and most areas west of the Rockies, except for foggy areas in California's Central Valley or flooded zones in the Pacific Northwest, AccuWeather said.

But could the polar vortex rear its ugly head yet again?

Maue said the ridge of high pressure will build across the Lower 48 from coast-to-coast into by Dec. 22, "but questions remain if Christmas is a 'blow torch' or the polar vortex can battle back and drop a few [very cold] troughs/lobes into the Great Lakes and Northeast," he said in an e-mail.

Maue said that eventually the warm pattern MUST break down, and the Canadian cold pool will find its way back into Lower 48. "However, no clear signals about when/how that will happen (yet)."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:First big snow storm to hit US as polar vortex sends bitter cold

byVincento Seyarto

in

December 12, 2025

First big snow storm to hit US as polar vortex sends coldest air yet

Forecasters say the first snow storm of the season to take aim at major Northeast cities will dump several inches of snow...

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FEMA to send Georgia more than $300 million in Hurricane Helene relief after accusations of delays

ATLANTA (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced it would send $350 million in funding to localities and electric cooperatives for relief efforts following Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. The announcement comes two months after Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia released a report that nearly $500 million in Hurricane Helene disaster relief was unpaid.

Hurricane Heleneswept acrossmuch of the Southeast in September 2024, devastating parts of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and other nearby states with high winds and heavy rains.

Warnockposted on the social platform Xearlier this week that the amount of Hurricane Helene relief funds FEMA was withholding had climbed to $600 million. The money will reimburse efforts such as debris removal, road fixes and utility repairs.

"Hurricanes and natural disasters are not political; they do not care if you voted red or blue, and Georgia counties and cities went right to work recovering from Helene's destruction with the understanding the federal government would fulfill its promises and pay their share," said Warnock in a statement. "It should not have gotten to this point."

Warnock said he would continue to push FEMA to deliver the additional funds. Last December, he led a bipartisan effort with a group of Georgia Congress members to send a letter to congressional leaders requesting at least $12 billion in federal supplemental disaster funding for Hurricane Helene. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp requested the aid shortly after the storm subsided.

Georgia farmersare also waiting on funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced in September that it would send $531 million to Georgia farmers. However, the aid amount wasn't accompanied by a finalized agreement on how the state planned to disburse the block grant. KempannouncedFriday that the portal will open soon, once the USDA gives the program final approval.

byVincento Seyarto

in

December 12, 2025

FEMA to send Georgia more than $300 million in Hurricane Helene relief after accusations of delays

ATLANTA (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday announced it would send $350 million in funding to local...

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New Epstein photos turn heads, but file dumps just getting started

WASHINGTON – Congressional Democratsreleased another eyebrow-raising batch of photosDec. 12 further linking several high-profile people, includingPresident Donald Trumpand former President Bill Clinton, toaccused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.

But thefallout is just beginning. And the trove of information available to the public isabout to get much bigger.

Thedisclosure of 19 new undated images, which showed celebritiesincluding director Woody Allenand Trump's former West Wing aideSteve Bannon, was a prelude to even more file dumps that Democrats on the House Oversight Committee plan to make available to the public from a recent 95,000-photo disclosure. The panel published more than 70 additional pictures later the same day. (Lawmakers provided only limited specifics about the images, none of which specifically implicated any of the pictured individuals in any alleged wrongdoing.)

"We've gone through maybe about 25,000 of them so far," Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, the ranking member of the panel, told reporters Dec. 12. "Some of the other photos that we did not put out today are incredibly disturbing."

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epstein's email that show Epstein with high-profile figures including Steve Bannon. Some images have had portions redacted by the Committee.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epstein's email that show Epstein with Woody Allen.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epstein's email, including this one showing Richard Branson, on the right.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein's email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show President Donald Trump with Epstein.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein's email on Dec. 12, 2025, show Bill Gates with an unidentified person.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein's email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Steve Bannon with Epstein.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein's email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Epstein with Alan Dershowitz.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein's email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Steve Bannon with Epstein.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein's email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show former President Bill Clinton and Ghislaine Maxwell with Epstein on Dec. 12, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

High-profile figures in Epstein's emails: See newly released images

House Democrats on the Oversight Committeereleased photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epstein's emailthat show Epstein with high-profile figures including Steve Bannon. Some images have had portions redacted by the Committee.

The Justice Department has until Dec. 19 to release as many documents as possible related to its own investigations into Epstein. That deadline was specified in a law that Congress passed nearly unanimously in November andwas signed by President Trump.

Read more:When will the Epstein files be released? Here's the latest

While members of Congress will be leaving Washington by that time for a holiday recess, the timing of the much-anticipated disclosures ensures it will be a dominant topic for at least the next few weeks, if not longer. That means lawmakers will return for the new year facing a range of choices about how to respond to the information that comes to light.

Republicans are in control of the Congress – giving them the authority to set hearings and the broader oversight agenda – but many of them have demonstrated a bipartisan interest in fully examining Epstein's complex web, despite the president's connections to it.

Trump has repeatedly denied having any knowledge of Epstein's alleged criminality. Though the two had a personal relationship decades ago, Trump has said he distanced himself from the financier.

Democrats for months have accused the Trump administration of covering up for Epstein. ButTrump noted on social mediaafter signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act that Epstein was charged in the New York federal case in 2019, during his first term. He also noted that the financier, who died by suicide that year in a jail cell, was a longtime contributor to Democratic politicians.

"Once again, House Democrats are selectively releasing cherry-picked photos with random redactions to try and create a false narrative," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.

A lawyer for former President Bill Clinton did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment about the new images.

Judges cite new law to approve releases of information

The extent of what will be released next week is uncertain.Attorney General Pam Bondisaid in July that most of what remains in internal files includes numerous child sex abuse videos or records that identify victims.

In recent weeks, the department has asked federal judges in cases related to Epstein to allow the release of grand jury transcripts and other evidence that would typically remain confidential. They've resoundingly complied.

On Dec. 5, U.S.District Judge Rodney Smith in Florida ordered the releaseof documents from the abandoned investigation of Epstein from 2005 to 2007. On Dec. 9, District Judge PaulEngelmayer in New Yorkgreenlit disclosing grand-jury transcripts and exhibits from thecase against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence. The next day,District Judge Richard Berman in New Yorkgave the go-ahead for sharing 2019records from the grand jury investigation into Epstein's alleged sex trafficking.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, one of the authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, told USA TODAY he's been encouraged thus far by both the recent court decisions and the Justice Department's compliance.

"The judges certainly are following the law, and the Justice Department petitioned them, based on our law," he said. "So far, it seems that they're making an effort."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:New Epstein photos turn heads, but info pileup is just getting started

byVincento Seyarto

in

December 12, 2025

New Epstein photos turn heads, but file dumps just getting started

WASHINGTON – Congressional Democratsreleased another eyebrow-raising batch of photosDec. 12 further linking several high-...

Read More

Navy investigation finds Osprey safety issues were allowed to grow for years

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aftera spate of deadly accidentsthat have claimed the lives of 20 service members in the past four years, a Navy report acknowledges that the military failed to address a growing series of issues withthe V-22 Osprey aircraftsince it took flight almost 20 years ago.

"The cumulative risk posture of the V-22 platform has been growing since initial fielding," according to the report by Naval Air Systems Command released Friday. It added that the office in charge of the aircraft "has not promptly implemented … fixes to mitigate existing risks."

"As a result, risks continue to accumulate," the report said.

The Associated Press reported last year thatthe most serious types of accidents for the Osprey, which is the only aircraft to fly like a plane but convert to land like a helicopter, spiked between 2019 and 2023 and that, unlike other aircraft, the problems did not level off as the years passed.

"As the first and only military tiltrotor aircraft, it remains the most aero-mechanically complex aircraft in service and continues to face unresolved legacy material, safety, and technical challenges," the report said.

Commissioned in 2023 by NAVAIR, the Navy command responsible for the purchase and maintenance of aircraft, the investigation reveals that the Osprey not only has the "second highest number of catastrophic risks across all Naval Aviation platforms" but that thoserisks have gone unresolvedfor an average of more than 10 years.

By contrast, the average across other aircraft in the Navy's inventory is six years.

The Navy's response

Vice Adm. John Dougherty, commander of NAVAIR, said the service is "committed to improving the V-22's performance and safeguarding the warfighters who rely on this platform." He offered no details on any actions taken for years of failing to address the Osprey's risks.

The command did not respond to questions about what, if any, accountability measures were taken in response to the findings.

The lack of details on accountability for missteps also came up when the Navy recently releasedinvestigations into four accidentsduring a U.S.-led campaign againstYemen's Houthi rebels. A senior Navy official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to offer more candid details, said that he didn't believe the service had an obligation to make accountability actions public.

Risks were allowed to build up, the report says

The investigation lays much of the responsibility for the problems on the Osprey's Joint Program Office. Part of the mission for this office, which operates within NAVAIR, is making sure the aircraft can be safely flown by the Marine Corps, the Navy and the Air Force, all of which use different versions of the aircraft for different missions.

The report found that this office "did not effectively manage or address identified risks in a timely manner,allowing them to accumulate," and it faced "challenges" in implementing safety fixes across all three services.

Two major issues involve the Osprey's complicated transmission. The aircraft has a host of gearboxes and clutches that, like a car's transmission, are crucial to powering each propeller behind the Osprey's unique tilting capability. The system also helps connect the two sides of the aircraft to keep it flying in the event of engine failure.

One problem is an issue in which the transmission system essentially shreds itself from the inside due to a power imbalance in the engines. That brought down a Marine Corps Osprey,killing five Marines in Californiain 2022.

The other issue is a manufacturing defect in the gears within the transmission thatrenders them more brittle and prone to failure. That was behind the crash of an Air Force Osprey off the coast of Japan in November 2023 thatkilled eight service members.

The report reveals that this manufacturing issue went back to 2006 but the Osprey's Joint Program Office did not formally assess or accept this risk until March 2024.

Besides these mechanical issues, the report found that the program office failed to ensure uniform maintenance standards for the aircraft, while determining that 81% of all the accidents that the Ospreys have had on the ground were due to human error.

Recommendations for the issues revealed

The report offers a series of recommendations for each of the issues it uncovered. They range from rudimentary suggestions like consolidating best maintenance practices across all the services to more systemic fixes like developing a new, midlife upgrade program for the Osprey.

While fixes for both mechanical issues are also in the report, it seems that it will take until 2034 and 2033 for the military to fully deal with both, respectively.

Naval Air Systems Command did not reply when asked if it had a message for troops who will fly in the aircraft in the meantime.

Watchdog also releases Osprey report

The Government Accountability Office, an independent watchdog serving Congress, made similar conclusions and recommendations in a separate report released Friday.

The GAO blamed most Osprey accidents on part failures and human error while service members flew or maintained the aircraft. It determined that the military hasn't fully "identified, analyzed, or responded" to all of the Osprey's safety risks.

The GAO said the Pentagon should improve its process for addressing those risks, while adding more oversight to ensure they are resolved. Another recommendation is for the Navy, Air Force and Marines to routinely share information on hazards and accidents to help prevent mishaps.

Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

byVincento Seyarto

in

December 12, 2025

Navy investigation finds Osprey safety issues were allowed to grow for years

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aftera spate of deadly accidentsthat have claimed the lives of 20 service members in the past four year...

Read More