A massive winter storm is creating travel chaos across the United States, threatening to turn millions of Thanksgiving journeys home into a nightmare scenario as it blankets nearly half the country with heavy snow.
Widespread Storm System Disrupts Holiday Travel
New forecast models reveal that 23 states lie directly in the path of a fast-moving winter storm bringing widespread blizzard conditions to the Midwest, followed by a prolonged lake-effect snow system around the Great Lakes and Northeast regions.
The storm has been building in the Central US since Wednesday, with meteorologists warning the worst conditions are expected to persist from today until Sunday. More than a dozen states will continue experiencing snow until early next week, significantly impacting post-Thanksgiving travel plans.
This winter blast could dump anywhere from several inches to three feet of snow in certain areas, creating dangerous driving conditions with slick roads, whiteouts, and potentially hours-long airport delays from Black Friday until at least Tuesday.
Multiple Regions Face Severe Weather Threats
AccuWeather meteorologist Elizabeth Danco issued a stark warning: 'Some highways may close due to the heavy snowfall rate and perhaps chain-reaction accidents.'
The initial winter storm is expected to move from the Midwest eastward through Saturday, bringing significant snow and widespread travel delays to numerous states including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and the Dakotas.
Particularly affected areas of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan could see up to 12 inches of snow by Sunday, with AccuWeather warning that in worst-case scenarios these totals might reach 18 inches.
Lake-Effect Snow Prolongs Travel Misery
Following the initial storm system, the lake-effect phase begins over the holiday weekend around the Great Lakes. Heavy snow bands will stretch into the Northeast and New England as cold air from Canada collides with moisture from the Gulf Coast.
States including Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are predicted to receive up to six inches of snow between Monday and Tuesday.
Meteorologists explain this holiday snowstorm is behaving like a speedy low-pressure system, often called a clipper, which formed over the Plains and Rockies. It's pulling cold air down from Canada and moisture up from the Gulf, creating a mix of rain and snow in the South and heavy snow everywhere north of Missouri.
Carl Erickson, Director of forecasting operations, stated: 'The period from Saturday to Saturday night is likely to be the worst for travel, considering that the snowstorm will be in progress over such a large area.'
Transportation Network Severely Impacted
The National Weather Service has already issued winter storm warnings in several states including Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois.
Forecasters are urging drivers planning to travel on major interstate routes including 75, 79, 80, 81, 86, 90, and 196 to closely monitor lake-effect and snow squall warnings. Motorists need to prepare for sudden changes in road conditions and the possibility of abandoning trips if visibility drops dangerously low.
This weekend's winter blast has the potential to ground thousands of flights across the US, with the Federal Aviation Administration likely to issue ground stops if snow and ice begin accumulating on runways.
The travel disruption has already begun, with 6,667 flights entering or leaving the US delayed on Wednesday alone. Nearly 900 of those delays occurred at Chicago O'Hare International Airport due to lake-effect snow hammering the upper Midwest throughout the week.
For travellers along the East Coast this weekend, AccuWeather warns that rain and fog on Sunday will likely impact drivers along the crucial I-95 corridor, affecting cities including New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.
Major northeastern cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia could also experience snow and ice early next week, potentially prolonging the post-Thanksgiving travel delays even further into the week.
Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather vice president of forecast operations, noted: 'This will be the most widespread lake-effect snow event of the season so far,' underscoring the significant impact this storm system will have across multiple regions of the United States.
