O’Hare sets November snowfall record; hundreds more Sunday cancellations as storm shifts East
A major winter storm dropped a single‑day November record 8.4 inches of snow at Chicago O’Hare and snarled air travel across the region, with O’Hare reporting 270+ cancellations and 1,200+ delays Sunday afternoon and Chicago airports seeing more than 1,400 cancellations Saturday. The system is shifting east under winter‑storm warnings from Montana to New York, with forecasts for additional heavy snow in parts of the Mid‑Atlantic and New England and weekend nationwide disruption totaling roughly 2,900 cancellations and 21,000 delays.
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📌 Key Facts
- A powerful, multi-part winter storm — including two concurrent systems that shifted east — spawned winter-storm warnings from Montana to New York and produced heavy snow, strong winds and rain across the Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast and Southeast.
- Chicago was hit hard: O’Hare recorded 8.4 inches of snow Saturday (a single‑day November record per the NWS); by Sunday midafternoon O’Hare had more than 270 cancellations and 1,200+ delays, and Chicago airports saw over 1,400 cancellations Saturday night.
- Nationwide aviation disruption was significant: roughly 2,900 flight cancellations and about 21,000 delays were reported over the Thanksgiving weekend, with earlier snapshots from FlightAware and the FAA showing thousands of additional delays and cancellations as the storm moved through.
- Heavy snowfall forecasts and observations included 6–12+ inches across parts of Iowa, west‑central Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and the central/northern Plains, with lake‑effect belts downwind of Lakes Superior, Erie and Ontario and parts of central New York likely to receive a foot or more; snow squalls could cause brief whiteout conditions in the interior Northeast.
- Hazardous ground impacts and operational incidents were widespread: key routes (I‑29, I‑90, I‑94 and portions of I‑94/I‑29 in North Dakota) were flagged or closed, multiple vehicle crashes were reported (including at least nine being investigated in Missouri), airports conducted active de‑icing, and a Delta Connection slid off an icy runway at Des Moines (no injuries).
- Local service and infrastructure effects included 6,000+ power outages around Milwaukee/South Milwaukee, western Michigan communities shifting church services online amid 10–12 inch lake‑effect bands, and an evacuation of Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson air‑traffic control tower that produced lingering delays.
- The storm struck during peak travel: Sunday was expected to be the busiest return day (TSA projected screening more than 3 million people that day), AAA forecast over 73 million drivers for Thanksgiving travel, and Airlines for America anticipated roughly 31 million air passengers over the Friday–Monday period, increasing the scope of disruption.
- Forecast and timing updates: the storm was expected to taper in the Rockies and northern Plains by Saturday while continuing into the Midwest and Great Lakes through the weekend; forecasters said Monday would be the best travel day before a new system moves into the Mid‑Atlantic/New England next week.
📊 Relevant Data
Historic disinvestment in infrastructure on Chicago's South and West Sides, where many Black residents live, contributes to higher traffic fatality rates for Black Chicagoans.
Persistent Inequities — City of Chicago
Census tracts in the US where low-income and BIPOC populations are more concentrated have measurably higher levels of vehicle traffic and higher speed limits, increasing the risk of traffic fatalities.
An Analysis of Traffic Fatalities by Race and Ethnicity — Governors Highway Safety Association
Black and Latino pedestrians and drivers are more likely to be killed in traffic accidents because the places they live are often more dangerous for driving and walking, lacking sidewalks, with poor lighting and higher speed limits in neighborhoods.
📰 Sources (12)
Travelers face thousands of flight cancellations and delays in return from Thanksgiving
New information:
- Nationwide impact totals: more than 2,900 flight cancellations and 21,000 delays over the Thanksgiving weekend.
- Confirms Sunday was expected to be the busiest day of the Thanksgiving travel rush.
- Links the widespread travel disruption to a powerful winter storm across the Midwest.
Winter storm snarls flights for post-Thanksgiving travelers in Chicago
New information:
- O’Hare recorded 8.4 inches of snow on Saturday, a single-day November record for the airport per the National Weather Service.
- By Sunday midafternoon: 270+ O’Hare flights canceled and 1,200+ delayed; FAA cited average departure delays near one hour due to snow/ice.
- Delta Connection flight from Detroit slid off an icy runway at Des Moines; no injuries and the airport reopened.
- Detroit Metro saw nearly 400 delays and 300+ cancellations on Sunday, per FlightAware.
- We Energies reported 6,000+ power outages in Wisconsin, concentrated around Milwaukee and South Milwaukee.
- FAA reported active de-icing at multiple airports including DCA and MSP; NWS said a new Mid-Atlantic/Northeast storm could bring up to a foot of snow by Tuesday, with major cities likely spared significant totals.
- Western Michigan churches shifted to online services amid lake-effect bands with up to 12 inches near Lake Michigan.
Thousands of U.S. flight delays, hundreds of cancellations, after Thanksgiving
New information:
- FlightAware reported 1,815 delays and 490 cancellations across the U.S. as of Sunday morning.
- By Saturday night, Chicago airports saw more than 1,400 cancellations with up to 10 inches of snow forecast.
- Additional impacted hubs included New York City, Boston, Des Moines, Minneapolis and Detroit; Detroit logged 300+ delays and dozens of cancellations Saturday night.
A major winter storm disrupts travel as millions head home after Thanksgiving
New information:
- NWS Saturday update: widespread heavy snow and hazardous travel from the central/northern Plains into the Midwest and Great Lakes with 6–12 inches and >1"/hour rates.
- Operational impacts: 800+ cancellations and 500+ delays at Chicago O’Hare on Saturday (FlightAware).
- Safety impacts: Missouri State Highway Patrol investigating at least nine storm-related crashes; Missouri DOT urged delaying travel.
- Forecast: Monday is the best travel day; a new system will affect the East Coast Tuesday with heavy snow in the northern Mid-Atlantic/New England and heavy rain in the Southeast.
Snow, rain and cold in store for some Thanksgiving travelers
New information:
- NWS warns of winter storm conditions from Montana to New York, with 6–12+ inches forecast in west-central Illinois Friday night through Saturday night.
- Foot-plus totals likely Saturday in parts of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan; snow squalls possible in the interior Northeast.
- NWS Winter Storm Severity Index flags 'highly dangerous' driving in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois Friday afternoon through midnight.
- Flash flooding risk Saturday along the western Gulf Coast due to heavy storms; widespread below-average temperatures across the East and Central U.S.
Storm warnings stretch across northern U.S., bringing wintry and risky conditions
New information:
- NWS says winter storm warnings/advisories now extend from Montana to New York heading into the weekend.
- Iowa and Illinois expected to get the brunt of the storm, with 6–12 inches forecast in west-central Illinois Friday night through Saturday night; conditions there do not meet blizzard criteria.
- Lake-effect totals could reach a foot or more downwind of Lake Superior and Lakes Erie/Ontario; parts of central New York could see around a foot.
- Snow squalls are possible Friday across the interior Northeast, creating brief whiteout driving conditions.
- Pacific Northwest and Rockies to see a mix of snow and rain Friday, with snow tapering in Rockies/northern Plains Saturday while shifting into the Midwest.
- Western Gulf Coast faces potential heavy storms with flash flooding risk on Saturday.
- Temperatures well below average across the eastern and central U.S. (Midwest highs in the 20s–30s F; New England/Mid-Atlantic 30s–40s; Southeast 40s–50s).
- Thanksgiving day snow contributed to multiple vehicle crashes in western Michigan.
Major winter storm on track to impact post-Thanksgiving travel for millions
New information:
- NWS winter storm warnings/advisories span from Montana to New York with specific snowfall forecasts: Chicago 8–12 inches; west-central Illinois 6–12 inches Friday night–Saturday night.
- TSA projects screening more than 3 million passengers on Sunday, one of the busiest days in its history (statement by senior official Adam Stahl).
- Airlines for America expects a record 31 million passengers from last Friday through Monday.
- NWS highlights ≥1 foot of snow downwind of Lake Superior and Lakes Erie/Ontario; central New York could see around a foot.
- Forecast timeline: Rockies/northern Plains tapering Saturday while snow continues into the Midwest and conditions improve overnight into Sunday; I-95 corridor expected to miss 'big snow'.
More snow, rain, and cold weather in store for post-Thanksgiving travelers
New information:
- NWS warnings and advisories extend Friday from Montana to New York, with snow lasting into the weekend in some areas.
- Iowa and Illinois expected to take the brunt; west-central Illinois forecast to receive 6–12 inches from Friday night through Saturday night.
- Lake-effect belts downwind of Lake Superior, Erie, and Ontario could see at least a foot of snow; parts of central New York may reach a foot.
- Snow squalls with brief whiteout driving conditions possible across the interior Northeast on Friday.
- Pacific Northwest and Rockies to see a mix of rain and snow Friday; snow tapers in the Rockies and northern Plains Saturday but continues into the Midwest.
- Heavy storms with potential flash flooding forecast Saturday along the western Gulf Coast.
- Temperatures well below average across the eastern and central U.S.: highs in the 20s–30s F in the Midwest, 30s–40s in New England/Mid-Atlantic, and 40s–50s in the Southeast.
A look at weather for Thanksgiving travel after Texas tornadoes, snow and rain elsewhere
New information:
- Up to 8 inches of snow reported in parts of North Dakota and South Dakota.
- North Dakota officials closed portions of I-94 and I-29 due to ice, low visibility and multiple accidents.
- Thanksgiving forecast in NYC: dry, cold and breezy for the Macy’s parade; lake-effect snow expected Wed–Fri in western New York and northern Michigan.
- Additional storms/showers expected across Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia; another storm system in the forecast for the Pacific Northwest.
Severe weather and travel troubles impact millions ahead of Thanksgiving
New information:
- AAA projects more than 73 million people will drive for Thanksgiving, with Wednesday the busiest road day.
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s air traffic control tower was briefly evacuated Tuesday due to a fast-moving thunderstorm.
- Lingering delays were reported at Atlanta after the evacuation.
Maps show where storms threaten Thanksgiving travel across the U.S.
New information:
- Two concurrent systems Tuesday–Wednesday: one bringing rain from the Ohio Valley into the Northeast; a second producing strong winds and heavy snow from the Plains through the Great Lakes.
- Winter storm warnings in parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan; Grand Forks could see up to 6 inches with 35 mph winds.
- Twin Cities snowfall rates exceeded 1 inch/hour early Tuesday; totals of 5–8 inches possible by Wednesday with gusts up to 45 mph and potential blizzard conditions.
- Travel impacts flagged on I‑29, I‑90, and I‑94 and at airports in Chicago, Duluth, Fargo, Minneapolis‑St. Paul and Pierre.
- Rain expected for multiple metros (NYC, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C.), potentially slowing drivers on I‑20, I‑40, I‑65, I‑75 and I‑95 and affecting air travel in those cities plus Indianapolis and Memphis.
- Chicago area airports anticipate about 3.6 million passengers this week, heightening disruption risk.