It’s been a hectic day for millions of Americans trying to return home this Thanksgiving weekend as a major winter storm hammered parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes, snarling interstates and disrupting air travel.
What happened
– More than a foot of snow fell in some Midwest and Great Lakes locations, producing dangerous driving conditions and widespread cancellations and delays.
– Chicago O’Hare recorded its snowiest November day on record, with over 8 inches at the airport; CBS’s Dave Malkoff reported from a busy O’Hare where frustrations ran high as travelers dealt with cancellations and long waits.
– More than 1,800 flights were canceled in Chicago over the weekend.
– Des Moines International Airport temporarily shut down after an airplane slid off a taxiway overnight.
– A 45-car pileup occurred near Terre Haute, Indiana.
– In the Northeast, train travel was affected when a passenger rail car caught fire in Providence, Rhode Island.
Airline and system issues
– JetBlue canceled at least 70 flights to update software on A320/A321 aircraft, adding to travel complications beyond weather.
Traveler perspective
– Passengers arriving at O’Hare described long delays; one couple said they arrived hours early for a 5 a.m. flight but were still being rebooked for late-evening departures.
What’s next — the forecast
– CBS Meteorologist Andrew Kozak said winter alerts remain across the Midwest, with snow continuing in some areas.
– A new developing system moving east will bring rain to the South and snow to the North. Early Tuesday could see snow in cities such as Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and New York before changing to rain.
– Inland areas northwest of the major East Coast cities could see 6–12 inches of snow as part of the system.
– A following cold surge will drop temperatures; by Wednesday into Thursday, Great Lakes areas including Chicago may experience wind chills in the single digits. Travelers are advised to monitor forecasts and airline updates and to bundle up for colder conditions.
