Northeast Braces for Heavy Snow as Midwest Travel Chaos Continues After Record Storm

Winter weather continued to disrupt travel across the United States on Monday, as the Midwest dealt with heavy snowfall and the Northeast prepared for its first major storm of the season.

Chicago remained one of the most severely impacted regions. According to the National Weather Service, O’Hare International Airport recorded more than eight inches of snow over the weekend—the highest single-day November snowfall ever documented, surpassing a record set in 1951.

The intense weather immediately affected air travel. By Sunday evening, nearly 300 flights were cancelled and around 1,600 were delayed at O’Hare, as reported by FlightAware. Delays and cancellations carried into Monday, while hazardous road conditions lingered across the region.

Parts of Iowa and Illinois experienced additional travel slowdowns as strong winds blew snow back onto cleared highways. “Some regions in Iowa and Illinois saw more than a foot of snow,” meteorologist Andrew Orrison said, though snowfall in the Great Lakes area began easing by Monday afternoon.

Travellers crowded gate areas and terminals as they waited out delays. Don Herrian, 76, travelling from Indianapolis to Oklahoma City, endured hours of disruptions. “It’s congested, but that’s expected with the snow, delays and holidays,” he said.

Northeast Prepares for Significant Winter Storm

Even as the Midwest recovered, the Northeast braced for a powerful winter system expected to bring strong winds, icy conditions and up to 10 inches of snow across several states.

Winter storm warnings and advisories were issued for Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, and New Hampshire. Orrison noted that some areas in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast could see up to a foot of snow by Tuesday, marking the first major snowfall of the season for many communities.

The National Weather Service advised coastal Maine residents to avoid all non-essential travel from Tuesday morning through Wednesday.

Pennsylvania Intensifies Preparations

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission deployed snow crews on Monday to pre-treat the 565-mile highway system. Travel restrictions across several eastern interstates—including the heavily used Northeast Extension—will begin early Tuesday morning.

More than 600 equipment operators and safety workers are on standby to manage snow removal across nearly 2,900 miles of roadway, spokesperson Marissa Orbanek said. “We prepare for snow year-round,” she added.

In New Hampshire, transportation officials launched their second annual “name-a-plow” contest alongside the incoming storm. Last year’s winner, “Ctrl-Salt-Delete,” set the tone for this year’s humorous submissions, with results to be announced in January.