This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/us/thanksgiving-weather.html

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Thanksgiving Weather: Live Updates as Parts of Nation Grapple With Snow Thanksgiving Weather Live Updates: Snow Disrupts Travel Across U.S.
(32 minutes later)
From a “bomb cyclone” in the Northwest to a powerful storm moving through the Midwest toward New England, a vast area of the United States has been paralyzed, or could be soon, by a buffet of severe weather just ahead of Thanksgiving. From a “bomb cyclone” in the Northwest to a powerful storm moving over the Great Lakes, a vast area of the United States was paralyzed by severe weather just ahead of Thanksgiving.
The two separate storm systems have choked transportation across the center of the nation, bringing 30 inches of snow in some areas and causing closed interstates and hundreds of canceled flights. The two separate storm systems have choked transportation across the center of the nation, bringing 30 inches of snow in some areas and causing closed interstates and hundreds of canceled flights. They were weakening and expected to drop less snow on Wednesday and Thursday, but holiday travel issues will likely continue into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The Midwestern storm system was moving through the Great Lakes on Wednesday, and expected to cause another six or so inches of snow in surrounding areas. Then it will move toward central Maine, said Brian Hurley, a forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Md. The upper Midwest, including Chicago, was bracing for windy conditions and a cold front. More than 55 million people were expected to fly or drive out of town during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. At least, that’s how many had hoped to.
“Plan for plenty of extra time,” said Brian Hurley, a forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Md.
The Northwest storm was over central Oregon on Wednesday. It had left up to 5 feet of snow in some mountainous areas. It could bring an additional 1 to 4 inches across a portion of the Great Basin, including parts of Utah, Nevada and Idaho, that don’t normally see much snow. The Twin Cities saw a new daily snowfall record set on Wednesday, with more than 7 inches at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, the Weather Service in the Twin Cities announced. The previous record, of nearly 5 inches, was set in 1983.
Forecasters warned that severe travel disruptions were likely to continue. More than 55 million people were expected to fly or drive out of town during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. At least, that’s how many had hoped to.
“Plan for plenty of extra time,” Mr. Hurley advised.
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, according to the airport’s website.
The National Weather Service in the Twin Cities said there had been “many accidents across central and southern Minnesota” on Tuesday night, advising travelers to “stay off the roads until you must travel.” Wind gusts in parts of Minnesota and central Wisconsin were expected to reach up to 40 miles per hour.
The winter storm also arrived as a fire broke out at an apartment building in Minneapolis that killed at least five people and displaced many other residents.The winter storm also arrived as a fire broke out at an apartment building in Minneapolis that killed at least five people and displaced many other residents.
The storm that buried much of the Midwest on Tuesday was expected to continue east through the region toward New England by Wednesday night. High wind warnings, with potential wind gusts of up to 50 m.p.h., were in effect from Kansas City to western Ohio. The Midwestern storm system was moving through the Great Lakes on Wednesday, and expected to cause another six or so inches of snow in surrounding areas. Then it will head toward central Maine, Mr. Hurley said.
Heavy snows and whipping winds were expected in the Northwest through Wednesday morning in what the National Weather Service called a “historic, unprecedented” storm, unlike any that had hit the region since the 1960s. It was believed it would qualify as a bomb cyclone, a designation given when barometric pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. Parts of the Upper Midwest and Chicago were likely to see high winds and a cold front, he said.
Heavy snows and whipping winds hit the Northwest overnight, in what the National Weather Service called a “historic, unprecedented” storm, unlike any that had hit the region since the 1960s. It was believed it would qualify as a bomb cyclone, a designation given when barometric pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
Winds reached 106 m.p.h. on Tuesday near Cape Blanco, Ore., with sustained winds of 85 m.p.h., exceeding the 74 m.p.h. definition of hurricane force. Travelers were encouraged to stay off the roads, with as much as a foot of snow blanketing Northern California and Oregon.Winds reached 106 m.p.h. on Tuesday near Cape Blanco, Ore., with sustained winds of 85 m.p.h., exceeding the 74 m.p.h. definition of hurricane force. Travelers were encouraged to stay off the roads, with as much as a foot of snow blanketing Northern California and Oregon.
The National Weather Service in Medford, Ore., said late Tuesday that “conditions should improve Wednesday afternoon.” Winds began gradually diminishing around midnight, forecasters said. The storm was weakening as it moved over central Oregon on Wednesday, Mr. Hurley said. It had left several feet of snow in mountainous areas, and could bring an additional one to four inches to parts of Utah, Nevada and Idaho, that don’t normally see much snow, he added.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for Southern Sierra Nevada, Lake Isabelle, Tehachapi pass, and Tejon pass over the Grapevine until early Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. “The thing about this storm is it's got such a broad reach,” he said.
Heavy snow is expected in the region with totals in the one to three feet range, the service said. Wind gusts could hit as high at 50 m.p.h.
Travel conditions will be “extremely treacherous or nearly impossible,” the service said. Road closures are likely due to snow cover.
In Northern California, a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 5, between Yreka and Redding, was closed in both directions on Wednesday because of the snowfall, according to the state’s transportation department. The department said that a number of cars had spun out along the road and had to be removed. Wednesday could bring rain and thunderstorms to the area, forecasters said.In Northern California, a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 5, between Yreka and Redding, was closed in both directions on Wednesday because of the snowfall, according to the state’s transportation department. The department said that a number of cars had spun out along the road and had to be removed. Wednesday could bring rain and thunderstorms to the area, forecasters said.
Denver International Airport returned to normal on Wednesday morning after heavy snowfall in the area on Monday and Tuesday. “Today will be a busy day at DEN!” the airport said on Twitter, directing travelers to arrive two hours before their flights.Denver International Airport returned to normal on Wednesday morning after heavy snowfall in the area on Monday and Tuesday. “Today will be a busy day at DEN!” the airport said on Twitter, directing travelers to arrive two hours before their flights.
The airport received 9.5 inches of snow and saw at least 463 flight cancellations on Tuesday. The storm made for Denver’s snowiest November day since 1994, according to the National Weather Service.The airport received 9.5 inches of snow and saw at least 463 flight cancellations on Tuesday. The storm made for Denver’s snowiest November day since 1994, according to the National Weather Service.
Colorado saw a wide range of snowfall totals from the storm. The town of Drake, about 30 miles north of Boulder, saw 33 inches of snow, while Bayfield, in the state’s southwest, saw just one inch, according to the weather service. Colorado saw a wide range of snowfall totals from the storm. The town of Drake, about 30 miles north of Boulder, saw 33 inches of snow, while Bayfield, in the state’s southwest, saw just one inch, according to the Seather Service.
While parts of the country are battling rain and snow that will affect travel on Wednesday, tornadoes touched down in Mississippi and Louisiana on Tuesday night, according to Alan Campbell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jackson, Miss.While parts of the country are battling rain and snow that will affect travel on Wednesday, tornadoes touched down in Mississippi and Louisiana on Tuesday night, according to Alan Campbell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jackson, Miss.
At least two tornadoes hit the Franklin and Madison parishes of Louisiana and two more hit in Rankin County, Miss., Mr. Campbell said on Wednesday. There were no deaths or injuries reported in any of the areas affected by tornadoes as of late Wednesday morning, according to sheriff departments there.At least two tornadoes hit the Franklin and Madison parishes of Louisiana and two more hit in Rankin County, Miss., Mr. Campbell said on Wednesday. There were no deaths or injuries reported in any of the areas affected by tornadoes as of late Wednesday morning, according to sheriff departments there.
There were reports of downed trees, downed power lines and damaged homes in some areas, he said, but that the worst of the weather might have passed. Mr. Campbell said he does not expect to see any more tornado activity as people begin traveling Wednesday.There were reports of downed trees, downed power lines and damaged homes in some areas, he said, but that the worst of the weather might have passed. Mr. Campbell said he does not expect to see any more tornado activity as people begin traveling Wednesday.
High winds in Missouri and Illinois led to power failures for about 13,000 people, according to a local news report and a Wednesday morning report by Ameren, an electrical company servicing the area. The National Weather Service in Weldon Spring, Mo., issued a high wind warning that would remain in effect until 3 p.m. local time.High winds in Missouri and Illinois led to power failures for about 13,000 people, according to a local news report and a Wednesday morning report by Ameren, an electrical company servicing the area. The National Weather Service in Weldon Spring, Mo., issued a high wind warning that would remain in effect until 3 p.m. local time.
Winds were expected around 30 m.p.h., with gusts of up to 60 m.p.h., threatening to bring down trees and power lines.Winds were expected around 30 m.p.h., with gusts of up to 60 m.p.h., threatening to bring down trees and power lines.
Showers and thunderstorms were expected from the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, with heavy snow expected in northern New England and parts of Maine later in the week.Showers and thunderstorms were expected from the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, with heavy snow expected in northern New England and parts of Maine later in the week.
Winds of 30 m.p.h. or more were expected in Boston and other areas of New England, and rain and snow were likely to increase in the afternoon and evening.Winds of 30 m.p.h. or more were expected in Boston and other areas of New England, and rain and snow were likely to increase in the afternoon and evening.
High winds could 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.High winds could 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.
Mr. Hurley said the latest forecast showed predicted that wind gusts in New York City on Thursday could go up to 40 m.p.h., with sustained winds in the 15 to 25 m.p.h. range. Mr. Hurley said the latest forecast showed that wind gusts in New York City on Thursday could go up to 40 m.p.h., with sustained winds in the 15 to 25 m.p.h. range.