A powerful late-November winter storm battered the Midwest and Great Lakes over the Thanksgiving weekend, creating hazardous driving conditions and snarling air travel for millions trying to return home.
What happened: Heavy snow — more than a foot in some locations — coated highways and communities across the region. Chicago O’Hare Airport recorded its snowiest November day on record, with over 8 inches of snow reported at the field. That accumulation and the broader storm led to widespread cancellations and delays: more than 1,800 flights were canceled in the Chicago area over the weekend. In Iowa, Des Moines International temporarily halted operations after an airplane slid off a taxiway overnight. Road conditions turned deadly in places: a 45-car pileup was reported near Terre Haute, Indiana. Rail travel was also affected when a passenger rail car caught fire in Providence, Rhode Island.
Airlines and system issues: Weather was not the only cause of disruption. JetBlue canceled at least 70 flights to deploy a software update for A320/A321 aircraft, adding operational strain on top of the storm-related cancellations and rebookings.
Traveler experience: Scenes at O’Hare and other hubs were marked by long lines and frustration. Passengers described long delays and extended rebooking wait times; one couple said they arrived hours early for a 5 a.m. departure but were still being rebooked into late-evening flights.
Forecast and outlook: Meteorologists warned that winter alerts remained in effect across parts of the Midwest as snow continued in some areas. A new system developing to the west is expected to push east, bringing rain to the South and snow to northern areas. Early Tuesday, wet snow could reach major East Coast cities such as Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York before changing to rain. Inland areas northwest of those cities could pick up significant totals, with forecasts calling for roughly 6–12 inches of snow in some spots. A cold surge behind the system will drive temperatures down; by Wednesday into Thursday, Great Lakes regions including Chicago could see wind chills in the single digits.
Advice for travelers: Authorities and meteorologists advised people to monitor local forecasts and airline notices, expect continued delays or cancellations, allow extra travel time, and dress warmly for the colder conditions that will follow the storm.