This archive report was first published on 27 November 2019.
As the US prepares for one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, a severe storm system has brought widespread disruptions across the country. The system, which includes a 'bomb cyclone' in the Northwest, has caused heavy snow and hurricane-force winds, paralyzing transportation and forcing thousands to cancel their travel plans.
More than 55 million people were expected to fly or drive out of town during the Thanksgiving holiday, but the storm has made travel extremely difficult. In the Northwest, winds reached 106 m.p.h. on Tuesday near Cape Bianco, Ore., with sustained winds of 85 m.p.h., exceeding the 74 m.p.h. definition of hurricane force.
The National Weather Service in Medford, Ore., said late Tuesday that 'conditions should improve Wednesday afternoon,' but the Sierra Nevada mountains were expected to be hammered by blizzards on Wednesday, with one to three feet of snow possible in areas.
As the storm continues to move east, high wind warnings are in effect from Kansas City to western Ohio, with potential wind gusts of up to 50 m.p.h. In the upper Midwest, forecasters at the National Weather Service predicted 'a swath of moderate to heavy snow' on Wednesday, with severe travel disruptions likely for these areas.
Parts of Minnesota expected up to 11 inches of snow, with a winter storm warning in effect through noon Wednesday and delays piling up at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Thirty-five flights had been canceled as of Wednesday morning, and another 60 had been delayed.
High winds could also put Thanksgiving parades at risk, including the annual Macy's parade in New York City. City regulations forbid the famous mega-sized balloons from flying when there are sustained winds above 23 m.p.h. or gusts above 34 m.p.h.
