A powerful winter storm has disrupted one of the busiest travel weekends in the United States, bringing heavy snow, rain, and cold temperatures to large parts of the country. Over 53 million people from South Dakota to New York were under winter weather alerts as the storm system swept across the Midwest and South.
In Indiana, a 45-car pile-up occurred on Interstate 78 on Saturday, with no serious injuries reported. Sergeant Matt Ames of the Indiana State Police urged drivers to stay home if possible and to drive safely in snowy conditions. Meanwhile, a Delta Air Lines plane skidded off the runway at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa during landing; no injuries were reported, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
Des Moines recorded 10.9 inches (28 cm) of snow through Sunday, the highest two-day snowfall there since January 2024. Several areas of Iowa reported over a foot of snow, while parts of Illinois, including Chicago, saw 5 inches and counting. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport recorded 8.4 inches of snow on Saturday, setting a new record for the snowiest November day in the city.
More than 4,600 flights within, into, or out of the US were delayed on Sunday, with 576 cancellations, according to FlightAware.com. Over 25% of delays were to or from Chicago's O'Hare. Illinois State Police reported nearly 500 auto crashes in the Chicago area on Saturday, with 66 involving injuries.
The storm also brought thunderstorms across the South and cold rain to parts of the East Coast, potentially affecting travel in cities including Cleveland, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
