A major winter storm moving through the central and northern Plains is spreading into the Midwest and Great Lakes over the weekend, bringing heavy snow and hazardous travel, the National Weather Service said.
Warnings and advisories extend from South Dakota into parts of Ohio. Some areas have already received as much as 8 inches of snow since Thursday. Meteorologists warned snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour, especially Saturday, with storm totals of 6–12 inches possible in many locations. Gusty winds combined with heavy snow are expected to reduce visibility and leave roadways snow-covered and dangerous.
Chicago O’Hare reported more than 800 canceled flights and over 500 delays on Saturday, according to FlightAware. The travel impact is amplified by a busy holiday weekend: AAA estimated nearly 82 million people would travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, including about 6 million flying.
Snow- and ice-related crashes have been reported. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it was investigating at least nine crashes in central Missouri and urged people to avoid travel in the hardest-hit areas. The Missouri Department of Transportation advised motorists to delay travel until the heaviest snow passes.
The northern and central U.S. will see snow and icy conditions through Sunday, while parts of Texas and Louisiana face heavy rain and potential isolated flooding. A new system is forecast to develop Monday and move east, reaching the East Coast on Tuesday; forecasters say it could bring heavy snow to the northern mid-Atlantic and New England and heavy rain to the Southeast. NWS meteorologist Andrew Orrison said Monday will likely be the best travel day, with conditions worsening Tuesday as precipitation becomes more widespread and accumulations possible farther north.
Weather-related disruptions are coinciding with mandatory software upgrades for Airbus A320 aircraft. Airbus directed airlines to install the upgrade immediately over concerns about flight controls, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency directive requiring the work before affected planes could fly again, with a deadline of 12:01 a.m. Sunday. Airlines including American and United said they had begun upgrades and were working to minimize delays.
Officials urged travelers to monitor forecasts, road conditions and airline notices before heading out.