A powerful nor'easter snowstorm is poised to unleash further travel disruption across the United States this week, compounding the chaos that stranded thousands of travellers over the Thanksgiving weekend. Forecasters warn that more than 235 million Americans will experience temperatures at or below freezing in an unseasonably bitter cold snap.
Widespread Disruption as Storm System Moves East
The fresh bout of severe weather follows a separate system that grounded flights and dumped heavy snow from Friday, throwing post-holiday plans into disarray. Over the weekend, at least 12,350 flights were delayed and around 1,020 were cancelled across the US, with Chicago O'Hare International Airport a major hub of cancellations.
Now, the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center warns a new winter storm will approach the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast from Monday evening, bringing a threat of snow and ice. "Any snowfall and ice will present hazardous travel concerns, especially across the interior Northeast U.S.," a spokesperson said.
Forecast Details and Extent of the Cold Snap
The FOX Forecast Centre estimates the staggering figure of over 235 million people will endure freezing conditions. Experts attribute the intense cold to a weakening Polar Vortex influenced by the La Niña weather pattern.
According to forecasts, the storm will first hit Kansas and Missouri with snow before developing into steady rain sweeping across Mississippi, Alabama, Western Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. Snow will then move into Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania by Monday night before blasting New York and New England. Parts of New England could see more than a foot of snow before it turns to rain.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny advised travellers to "buckle up and be ready for travel disruptions," noting crews may struggle to clear roads. This stormy, cold pattern is expected to persist through the first week of December.
Weekend Chaos and Ongoing Impacts
The precursor system over the weekend caused significant havoc, dumping up to 25 inches of snow in parts of New York, Iowa, and Michigan. The disruption continued into Sunday, with one incident seeing an Endeavor Air flight, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary, slide off an icy runway at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa on Saturday night. All 54 passengers disembarked safely via stairs.
With around 53 million people from South Dakota to New York under weather alerts during the weekend, the fresh storm threatens to prolong the travel nightmare for millions. Experts from USA Today indicate the cold weather, with varying intensity, could last for the first ten days of December.
