The snow and rain that have hampered traffic in the Northeast after the holidays are expected to persist far into the workweek, putting about five million people under winter weather alerts Monday morning.
Snowfall in locations downwind of Lake Erie is expected to continue at least until Wednesday, and lake effect snow warnings are still in place for Cleveland, Ohio, and Erie, Pennsylvania.
In other areas, Syracuse, New York, and the Michigan peninsulas are under winter storm warnings and advisories.
Today, 1 to 2 inches of snow might fall in affected areas every hour, impairing visibility and possibly posing a threat. The National Weather Service predicted that temperatures in the Ohio Valley, the Mid-Atlantic, and portions of the Plains will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
On one of the busiest travel days of the year, an Arctic blast slammed through northern states on Sunday, bringing perilous conditions to the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern Plains.
In Erie, at least 30 inches of snow had already fallen. According to the NWS, one spot in Jefferson County, New York, received about 46 inches of snow on Sunday. Governor Kathy Hochul announced on X that the restriction on buses, commercial trucks, and tractor-trailer trucks would end at two in the AM ET.
State police in live-saving rescue
New York State Troopers had to rescue a 64-year-old woman who had become trapped on a snowy highway while traveling for a heart transplant procedure. A battery-operated pump kept the woman’s heart beating as her husband drove her from Rochester to Cleveland for the crucial treatment. The spouse managed to get in touch with a Cleveland nurse who alerted state police.
Before being transported to Cleveland for the transplant, the troopers took her to a nearby hospital.
“The actions of the Troopers, medical staff, and transportation teams highlight how critical teamwork and quick thinking can save lives, even in the face of severe weather conditions,” the New York State Police said in a statement.
The force reported assisting 111 disabled vehicles, looking into 82 incidents that caused property damage, and investigating seven collisions that caused human injuries during the winter weather that lasted from Thanksgiving until Sunday.
With temperatures in Tallahassee of about 33 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly below the seasonal normal, and a freeze warning in effect for northern Florida and southern Georgia, the Southeast is not immune to the cold wave.
Record travel holiday weekend
With 2.8 million travelers expected to depart on Saturday—a million more than on the same day in 2023—the Thanksgiving holiday is expected to break new travel records.
People returning home after seeing loved ones were observed trekking from toll booths to terminals on Sunday due to the heavy traffic at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. On X late Sunday, the airport reported that gridlock had subsided, but it nevertheless cautioned travelers to give themselves more time.
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