A powerful winter storm brought over a foot of snow and strong winds across the US Midwest over the Thanksgiving weekend, affecting 53 million people from South Dakota to New York under winter weather alerts. The storm caused significant travel disruptions during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
In Indiana, a 45-car pile-up occurred on Interstate 78 on Saturday morning, though no serious injuries were reported. Sergeant Matt Ames of Indiana state police urged motorists to stay home if possible and drive safely in snowy conditions. Meanwhile, a Delta Air Lines plane skidded off the runway in Des Moines, Iowa, during landing, with no injuries reported. The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Des Moines airport recorded 10.9 inches of snow through Sunday, the highest two-day snowfall since January 2024. Several areas of Iowa reported over a foot of snow, while parts of Illinois, including Chicago, recorded 5 inches. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport saw 8.4 inches on Saturday, setting a new record for the snowiest November day in the city.
Over 4,600 flights within, into, or out of the United States were delayed on Sunday, with 576 cancelled, according to FlightAware. More than 25% of delays were linked to Chicago's O'Hare. Illinois state police reported nearly 500 auto crashes in the Chicago area on Saturday, with 66 involving injuries.
Parts of the US east coast are expected to experience cold rain, with possible travel impacts in cities including Cleveland, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
