Blinding Snow, Ground Stops and Treacherous Roads: A Powerful Winter Storm Sweeps Across the Midwest
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A Powerful Storm Sweeps into the Midwest
Snow swept across the Central United States this weekend, pushing into the Plains, the Midwest and the Great Lakes with a force that transformed highways, runways and entire cities. Behind the first holiday gatherings, a different kind of intensity set in.The storm moved in with thick bands of snow, icy gusts and fast-moving clouds that dimmed skylines from Kansas to Michigan.
Chicago and Milwaukee Face the Heaviest Blow
Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI stood directly in the storm’s path, with snowfall intensifying through Saturday afternoon. Forecasts called for 8 to 12 inches of snow, and some locations across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin were expected to exceed a foot.In Chicago, more than 3 inches had already fallen at O’Hare International Airport by early afternoon, with heavier bands still incoming. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at both O’Hare and Midway, temporarily halting flights as visibility dropped.
By late Saturday:
- More than 900 flights to and from Chicago were canceled
- Delays stretched up to five hours
- Major roadways showed lanes erased under snow
In Milwaukee, snowfall rates climbed above one inch per hour, creating rapid accumulation on highways and neighborhoods. The steady fall covered rooftops, tree branches and parked cars in thick white layers.
Storm Strengthens as It Crosses the Country
The system originated in the Rockies Friday, then intensified while sweeping across the Plains early Saturday.Meteorologists noted that it would continue strengthening as it expanded eastward, sending:
- Heavy snow into Nebraska, KS, Iowa, WI, Illinois and Michigan
- A wintry mix into transition zones between snow and rain
- Rain and thunderstorms into southern states
Wind gusts and snowfall rates exceeding one inch per hour created dangerous travel conditions, sharply reduced visibility and snow-covered roadways.
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Midwest Winter Storm: Chicago, Milwaukee and Iowa Buried in Heavy Snow as Holiday Travel Grinds to a HaltIowa and the Central Plains Buried Under Deep Snow
Central Iowa recorded 3 to 5 inches by Saturday morning, with forecasts indicating totals reaching or surpassing a foot by Sunday.The Iowa Department of Transportation described major interstates as fully covered in snow, warning travelers to prepare for sudden road closures or delays.
Snow also pushed into Missouri and continued building across eastern Nebraska and western Illinois. The closer a location sat to the Great Lakes, the higher the snow totals rose.
In Springfield, IL, officials declared a Snow Emergency through Sunday morning, urging residents to stay off the roads.
Airports and Highways Struggle Under Heavy Snow
Across the Midwest, transportation systems strained under the storm’s reach.Travelers returning from Thanksgiving found themselves stranded in terminals or inching along hazardous highways.
By midday Saturday, Chicago’s O’Hare alone registered:
- 587 delays
- 856 cancellations
In Alden Township, MN, a 69-year-old man was killed after a snow-covered tree fell during strong winds earlier in the week.
Southern States Face a Different Threat
Farther south, warm Gulf moisture collided with the advancing cold front, producing heavy rain and thunderstorms across Texas, AR and Louisiana.Forecasters warned of:
- Damaging winds
- Severe thunderstorms
- The possibility of tornadoes
The Storm’s Next Move
By Sunday, the system was expected to spread snow across the Great Lakes while draping rain from the Mid-Atlantic through the Tennessee Valley.Behind it, a rush of Arctic air would push temperatures sharply lower across the Midwest and Plains.
The wintry mix in the Northeast and New England on Sunday night would mark the final stage of the storm before it moved off the East Coast early Monday.
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