A winter storm is making travel tough as many people head home after the Thanksgiving holiday. This storm is moving from the central Plains to the Midwest and the Great Lakes, bringing heavy snow and tricky travel conditions.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), winter storm warnings are in effect across areas from South Dakota to parts of Ohio. Some regions have already received up to 8 inches of snow since Thursday. Snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour, causing total accumulations between 6 and 12 inches. The strong winds combined with heavy snowfall will likely lead to poor visibility and treacherous roads.
Over 800 flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport were canceled on Saturday, with more than 500 delayed. This severe weather comes as nearly 82 million people planned to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday; about 6 million of them were expected to fly, as noted by AAA.
Social media buzz reveals troubling incidents related to the storm. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported investigating at least nine crashes due to icy roads. Officials are urging people to avoid travel in heavily impacted areas. Missouri’s Department of Transportation even advised to postpone trips unless absolutely necessary.
While snow wreaks havoc in the north and central U.S., states like Texas and Louisiana face heavy rain and potential flooding. A new storm system is anticipated to develop on Monday, affecting the East Coast by Tuesday, causing more snow in the mid-Atlantic and heavy rain in the Southeast.
Meteorologist Andrew Orrison emphasizes that Monday presents the best conditions for travel home from the holidays. However, by Tuesday, travel complications will likely worsen with additional rain and snow, particularly for northern states.
Adding to the chaos, airline operations have been disrupted by necessary software upgrades for Airbus A320 planes. The FAA mandated these upgrades after concerns regarding flight controls. Several airlines are implementing these changes but working hard to keep delays minimal.
For those traveling, keeping an eye on weather forecasts and flight updates is essential during this time of significant disruptions.
For more detailed information, you can check the National Weather Service (NWS).
