A car drives up a snowy road in Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday.
Jared McNett/Sioux City Journal via AP
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Jared McNett/Sioux City Journal via AP
A winter storm is causing travel disruptions across the country as millions return home from Thanksgiving celebrations.
The storm in the central and northern Plains is expected to move towards the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, bringing heavy snowfall and dangerous travel conditions, according to the National Weather Services (NWS).
Winter storm warnings and advisories are in place from South Dakota to parts of Ohio, with some areas already experiencing up to 8 inches of snow since Thursday.
The NWS predicts snowfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour, leading to total accumulations of 6-12 inches with hazardous travel conditions.
Flight disruptions have been reported, with over 800 flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport canceled and more than 500 delayed.
Officials urge caution as car crashes related to the storm have been reported, with warnings to avoid travel in heavily impacted areas.
As the storm moves across the U.S., parts of Texas and Louisiana may experience heavy rain and flooding risks.
A new storm system is forecast to develop on Monday, affecting the East Coast on Tuesday with heavy snow in the northern mid-Atlantic and New England, and heavy rain in the Southeast.
Travel conditions on Tuesday are expected to worsen with widespread rainfall and accumulating snow in northern areas.
Weather-related delays coincide with mandatory software upgrades to Airbus A320 aircraft, prompting airlines to take immediate action to upgrade the software before flights can resume.
Several airlines have started the software upgrades to minimize flight delays and ensure passenger safety.
