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New Year's Eve Preparedness: Navigating Severe Weather and Security
Episode 7731st December 2025 • EM Morning Brief • Brian Colburn
00:00:00 00:04:32

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The episode delineates the significant meteorological events as the year 2025 concludes, highlighting the formidable winter conditions that are currently prevailing across various regions. A state of emergency has been expanded statewide in New York, primarily due to the incessant lake effect snow bands and accompanying winter storm warnings. Furthermore, the episode elucidates the nationwide security measures that have been heightened in anticipation of New Year's festivities, with federal and local authorities implementing rigorous screening processes and restrictions at major venues. Notably, the episode provides critical updates regarding a recent magnitude 5.3 earthquake in California, emphasizing the absence of a tsunami threat yet cautioning against potential aftershocks. As we navigate these multifaceted challenges, we remain committed to delivering timely and relevant information to our audience.

Takeaways:

  1. The podcast discusses a strong winter weather setup impacting various regions as the year concludes.
  2. Lake effect snow warnings have been issued for areas in New York, particularly affecting Buffalo.
  3. Emergency measures have been implemented statewide in response to severe winter conditions across multiple states.
  4. Security measures are heightened nationwide in anticipation of New Year's Eve celebrations and potential threats.
  5. The episode highlights specific security strategies in major cities such as New York and Las Vegas.
  6. Cold weather advisories are in effect for parts of Florida, indicating significant temperature drops overnight.

Sources

[AP News | https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-bourbon-attack-security-1298ae460051ab9d80e04f41ed7b6802]

[Clark County | https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/public_communications/clark_county_featured_stories/new-years-eve]

[LVMPD (ordinances) | https://www.lvmpd.com/services/tourist-safety/local-ordinances-and-state-laws]

[News3LV | https://news3lv.com/news/local/las-vegas-officials-outline-new-years-eve-restrictions-and-road-closures]

[Las Vegas Review-Journal | https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/las-vegas-officials-emphasize-safety-ahead-of-new-years-eve-3601857/]

[Governor of NY | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-expands-state-emergency-statewide-response-lake-effect-snow-and-high-winds]

[Gothamist | https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-plans-new-security-measures-at-times-square-new-years-eve-celebration]

[ABC7NY | https://abc7ny.com/post/new-years-eve-nycs-times-square-everything-know-ball-drop-how-watch-more/18330767/]

[NY1 | https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/public-safety/2025/12/30/nypd-says-secondary-screenings-part-of-nye-security-plan]

[USGS | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75288851]

[NWS Buffalo | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=buf&wwa=all]

[Governor of NY (Dec 29–30 updates) | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-expands-state-emergency-statewide-response-lake-effect-snow-and-high-winds]

[NWS Gaylord | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=apx&wwa=winter+weather+advisory]

[NWS Marquette | https://www.weather.gov/mqt/]

[NWS Austin/San Antonio | https://www.weather.gov/ewx/forecasts]

[NWS Melbourne | https://www.weather.gov/mlb/]

[NWS Tampa Bay | https://www.weather.gov/tbw/]

Transcripts

Speaker A:

Good morning.

Speaker A:

,:

Speaker A:

A strong winter setup closes out the year.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

Security planning is stepped up nationwide.

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

Large venues are adding layered screening and secondary sweeps.

Speaker A:

Major hubs issue event specific restrictions.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

Let's run through the states.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

Depth 4.7 kilometers.

Speaker A:

No damage reports in official products so far.

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

Officials maintain no specific credible threats.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

Rideshare drop offs adjust as closures expand.

Speaker A:

New York Lake effect snow intensifies downwind of lakes.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

Advisories continue elsewhere.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

NYPD and City hall outline the Times Square plan.

Speaker A:

th Ave. Broadway from:

Speaker A:

Frequent snow showers with localized heavier bands continue.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

Slippery roads brief whiteouts.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

Advisories note another light freeze possible in outlying areas tonight.

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

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

Speaker A:

,:

Speaker A:

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.

Speaker A:

Source links are in the show notes below.

Speaker A:

Stay safe.

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