WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) — At least one foot of snow fell on parts of the Upper Midwest on Saturday, creating potentially hazardous traveling conditions ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The National Weather Service said a storm dumped from 8 to 16 inches of snow in a stretch between southeastern South Dakota to southern Wisconsin starting Friday. Winter weather advisories are posted for multiple parts of Michigan, including Detroit, and northern Indiana.
More than 11 inches of snow fell on Chicago since Friday, while the Sioux City, South Dakota, metropolitan area had about 18 inches of snow.
Nearly 600 flights in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport were canceled — reporting 9.1 inches of snow by 7 a.m. Saturday. The storm system was moving east, bringing the cold weather toward the Great Lakes.
“After the first significant snowstorm of the season for parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, conditions are forecast to be less active with just some patchy areas of lake effect snow remaining,” the National Weather Service said in a statement. “The cold front should exit the East coast on Sunday, ushering in an even colder airmass for the beginning of the week.”
The Iowa Department of Transportation warned residents in Des Moines and several cities not to travel because of the winter conditions. Many vehicles have reportedly been seen in ditches, particularly near Mason City and Council Bluffs.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement warning residents to prepare for wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour with the possibility of a foot of snow.
