Chicago – A powerful winter storm sweeping across the northern tier of the United States dumped heavy snow across multiple states on December 29, prompting widespread travel disruptions, airport delays, and power outages as officials warned of dangerous to near-impossible travel conditions. The situation was detailed in a report by USA TODAY, citing federal forecasters and outage data.
Millions Under Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings
Tens of millions of people were placed under blizzard and winter storm warnings stretching from Minnesota and Iowa through Michigan, New York, and Maine, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said more than a foot of snow was expected across parts of the upper Great Lakes, with some areas along the south shore of Lake Superior potentially seeing double that amount.
Meteorologists warned that blowing snow and strong winds could reduce visibility to near zero in some locations, making travel extremely hazardous.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the National Weather Service office in Marquette, Michigan, said, warning of wind gusts up to 50 mph and several inches of additional snowfall impacting the Monday morning commute.
Arctic Air Ends Unseasonable Warmth
The storm, which began intensifying over the weekend, was forecast to peak on December 29. As snow spread across the northern U.S., a surge of Arctic air pushed southward, abruptly ending a multi-day stretch of record warmth in several cities.
“High temperatures today will be 30 to 40 degrees colder than yesterday across much of the Nation’s midsection,” the National Weather Service said, as a strong cold front swept across the East Coast and Florida before moving offshore.
Power Outages Spread Across Multiple States
As the storm intensified, power outages mounted across several regions. By the morning of December 29, more than 80,000 homes and businesses in Michigan were without electricity, according to USA TODAY’s outage tracker.
New York reported over 17,000 outages, primarily in the western part of the state, while Ohio saw more than 6,000 buildings lose power. Farther south, strong winds associated with the storm system also caused disruptions, with nearly 30,000 outages reported in Texas.
Roads Closed and Travel Discouraged
Officials urged residents to avoid travel whenever possible. Drivers who absolutely needed to be on the road were advised to carry winter survival kits in case they became stranded.
Several major highways were closed due to impassable conditions, including a stretch of Interstate 35 in Minnesota, where heavy snowfall rendered travel unsafe.
Flight Delays and Cancellations Mount Nationwide
Air travel was also heavily impacted as snow and ice disrupted airport operations across the country. A ground stop was issued early December 29 at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, remaining in effect for several hours, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Airports in Albany, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, were forced to deice aircraft on runways, slowing departures. At Chicago O’Hare International Airport, nearly 50 flights were canceled by early morning, while more than 60 cancellations were reported at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to flight tracking data.
Thousands of flights nationwide were already canceled or delayed the previous day, and officials warned that disruptions could continue as the storm system moved east and colder air settled in.
Dangerous Conditions Expected to Linger
Forecasters cautioned that even after snowfall tapers off, lingering winds, blowing snow, and plunging temperatures could continue to create hazardous conditions. Officials urged residents to stay informed, monitor local advisories, and delay travel until conditions improve.
