Heavy snow blanketing the Midwest and Northeast has triggered massive travel disruptions while flooding threatens the Pacific Northwest
A powerful winter storm system continues wreaking havoc across the United States, stranding travelers and creating dangerous conditions from the Rockies to the Northeast. The widespread weather event has brought operations at major airports to a crawl while dumping significant snowfall across multiple states and threatening serious flooding in the Pacific Northwest.
Air travel suffered massive disruptions on Sunday morning with more than 2,800 flights delayed and 203 canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware.com. The ripple effects of the storm have touched airports from coast to coast, leaving thousands of passengers scrambling to reach their destinations as the holiday travel season continues.
Chicago bears brunt of travel chaos
Chicago O’Hare International Airport experienced the worst of the disruptions, reporting over 600 delays and 145 cancellations as heavy snow reduced visibility and created treacherous conditions. The airport faced ground delays approaching two hours as crews worked to clear runways and taxiways of accumulating snow. The Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary ground stops at multiple facilities as conditions deteriorated.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport also reported significant operational disruptions. The FAA implemented a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson until 10:45 a.m. due to low visibility caused by weather conditions moving through the region.
Heavy accumulation blankets multiple states
The Rockies and northern Plains bore the initial impact of the severe winter weather before the system spread eastward into the Great Lakes region. Sunday morning brought continued snowfall over the Great Lakes area, with forecasters predicting the precipitation would extend into the interior Northeast by afternoon and evening hours.
Most affected areas can expect between 2 and 5 inches of snow, though some Iowa locations could see accumulations reaching 8 inches. The Northeast faces lighter totals with up to 3 inches anticipated in most locations. Meteorologists expect the fast-moving system to clear the region by early Monday morning, providing relief to beleaguered travelers and residents.
Several areas have already recorded impressive snowfall totals as of Sunday morning. Canton, South Dakota measured 9.4 inches of accumulation, while Ames, Iowa recorded 8 inches. Rockford, Illinois saw 5.7 inches fall, and areas around Chicago O’Hare International Airport received approximately 4 inches of snow.
Fog compounds problems in multiple regions
Beyond the snow, various fog alerts remained in effect across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, stretching from Texas all the way to Maryland. Reduced visibility and icy conditions created additional hazards, particularly throughout the Mid-Atlantic area. Weather officials anticipated these alerts would expire soon as atmospheric conditions gradually improved.
Pacific Northwest braces for flooding threat
While snow dominates headlines in the eastern portions of the country, the Pacific Northwest prepares for a different but equally dangerous weather threat. A series of atmospheric rivers will target the region this week, bringing heavy rainfall, potential flash flooding and strong winds that could create their own set of problems.
Approximately eight million people face flood alerts in western Washington and Oregon, including major population centers like Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Eugene. The first wave of rain arrived on coastal areas Sunday, but forecasters warned that Monday morning would bring the most serious concerns for heavy precipitation and flash flooding.
Rainfall totals could reach 2 to 5 inches by Wednesday night across much of the region. Some lower elevations in the Cascades and Olympics might receive 6 to 10 inches, with isolated areas potentially seeing up to 12 inches of rain. Mountains above 6,000 to 7,000 feet in the Cascades, Olympics and northern Rockies could accumulate feet of snow.
Strong wind gusts ranging from 30 to 50 mph are expected along Washington and Oregon coasts. Montana faces particularly dangerous conditions with high wind alerts warning of gusts potentially reaching 70 mph from Monday night into Tuesday.
Source: Weather reporting services