Good morning.

I'm Cedric and This is your EM Morning Brief for Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

A strong winter setup closes out the year.

Lake effect bands are locked in off lakes Erie and Ontario with winter storm warnings for parts of western and central New York.

State officials expanded a state of emergency statewide earlier this week and continue urging caution for New Year's travel.

Michigan's upper and northern lower peninsulas carry winter storm advisory headlines for bursts of snow and low visibility.

Farther south, freeze conditions reach portions of south central Texas at daybreak, while Florida's peninsula woke up to a cold weather advisory with feel like temps into the 20s and 30s overnight.

The USGS reviewed a magnitude 5.3 earthquake north northwest of Susanville, California.

No tsunami risk with that inland event, but aftershocks are possible for New Year's Eve.

Security planning is stepped up nationwide.

DHS officials describe a heightened threat environment with emphasis on vigilance against lone offenders or small cells, while reiterating there is no specific credible threat to a particular event.

Large venues are adding layered screening and secondary sweeps.

Major hubs issue event specific restrictions.

New York City deploys enhanced screening and early street closures around Times Square.

Las Vegas enforces long standing strip and downtown ordinances that ban large bags, coolers, strollers and glass metal containers from 6pm to 6am and New Orleans brings in the National Guard to support local and state police for the first New Year's since last year's Bourbon street attack.

Let's run through the states.

California USGS reports a magnitude 5.3 quake at 9:49pm PST Tuesday about 14 kilometers north northwest of Susanville.

Depth 4.7 kilometers.

No damage reports in official products so far.

Louisiana New Orleans receives approximately 350 National Guard members to augment NOPD, state police and federal partners for French Quarter Bourbon street operations, part of a visible security posture a year after the vehicle attack.

Officials maintain no specific credible threats.

Nevada on the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont street planned for heavy screening downtown and along the strip.

Rideshare drop offs adjust as closures expand.

New York Lake effect snow intensifies downwind of lakes.

Erie, Ontario Winter storm warning for northern Erie county including Buffalo runs 1pm to 1am with 6 to 12 inches possible in persistent bands.

Advisories continue elsewhere.

The governor expanded the state of emergency statewide for the lake effect high wind event and urges caution into the holiday.

NYPD and City hall outline the Times Square plan.

Extended street closures begin early Detours from approximately 2am Major closures of 7th Ave. Broadway from 38:59 around late morning with access to viewing pens from 3pm at checkpoints on 45th, 49th, 52nd, 56th Streets via 6th 8th Avenues, Michigan.

Frequent snow showers with localized heavier bands continue.

NWS Gaylord keeps a winter weather advisory through 7pm Eastern for parts of NW Lower MI.

Slippery roads brief whiteouts.

NWS Marquette highlights additional warnings advisories across the Upper including marine gales and freezing spray hazards.

Freeze warning covers Atascosa, Frio, Carnes, Medina and Wilson counties 3 to 8am Central Standard Time Wednesday with lows around 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Advisories note another light freeze possible in outlying areas tonight.

Florida Central and West Central Florida start the day with cold weather messaging Cold weather advisory across much of east Central Florida through 9am Eastern and freeze freeze watch warning segments for interior zones earlier this morning.

All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

That's the brief for Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

Notes on included New York's statewide emergency expansion is an official update posted within the last 48 hours to clarify an ongoing storm response.

Source links are in the show notes below.

Stay safe.