A relentless snowstorm has blanketed the United States, causing travel chaos and disrupting flights across the country. The wintry conditions, stretching from the West to the Northeast, have left a trail of cancellations and delays at airports.
The Rockies and northern Plains are bearing the brunt of the storm, with heavy snow persisting overnight and reaching the Great Lakes region, including major cities like Chicago. As of Sunday morning, the forecast predicts snow to continue over the Great Lakes and extend into the interior Northeast later in the day. Most areas are expected to receive 2-5 inches of snow, with some parts of Iowa potentially seeing up to 8 inches. In the Northeast, a light dusting of up to 3 inches is anticipated.
The fast-moving system is predicted to ease by early Monday morning, but not before leaving its mark. Snowfall totals as of 11 a.m. include 9.4 inches in Canton, South Dakota; 8 inches in Ames, Iowa; 5.7 inches in Rockford, Illinois; and 4 inches around Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
Chicago residents in the Lincoln Park neighborhood were out in full force on Sunday, clearing the fresh powder from their cars and shoveling the streets. Ashley Reich, a local resident, shared her thoughts with NBC News, mentioning that the area had just experienced a snowstorm right after Thanksgiving.
"It's magical to have a Winter Wonderland-like setting before Christmas," Reich said, embracing the festive spirit.
Isaac Norwich, a Chicago resident for four years, described the snowfall as the worst he's seen since moving to the city.
"This definitely feels like the harshest winter yet," Norwich remarked. "It's as if people were right when they said Chicago winters bring a lot of snow."
The impact on travel has been significant, with FlightAware.com reporting more than 4,100 delayed flights and 323 cancellations as of Sunday morning. O'Hare International Airport has been a major hub of disruption, with over 760 delays and 174 cancellations. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina have also reported a high number of delays and cancellations.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, departures from Hartsfield-Jackson are delayed by approximately 30 minutes, while flights to O'Hare are delayed by almost two hours due to the inclement weather.
But here's where it gets controversial: while some regions battle snow, others face different weather challenges. Fog alerts are in effect for parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Texas and Alabama through Maryland. Reduced visibility and icy conditions have been reported, but these alerts are set to expire within the next hour as conditions improve.
The Southeast region is experiencing persistent rain, with a stubborn weather system lingering over the area. Parts of Florida and Georgia have already recorded over an inch of rain this weekend, and more is expected through Sunday night. While the severe weather risk is low over the Florida Peninsula, a few storms could still bring damaging winds or even an isolated tornado.
Further north, the same system may transition to a wintry mix late Sunday through Monday across the Mid-Atlantic region. Winter alerts are in effect for parts of West Virginia, Virginia, and the North Carolina mountains through Monday, as 1-3 inches of snow are anticipated.
And this is the part most people miss: the Pacific Northwest is also facing a series of atmospheric rivers this week, bringing the risk of flash floods, heavy mountain snow, and strong wind gusts. Eight million people are under Flood Alerts throughout western Washington and Oregon through Friday, including in major cities like Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, and Eugene.
The first wave of rain has already arrived in coastal Washington and Oregon, but the real concern for heavy rain and flash flooding will begin on Monday morning. Waves of rain will persist through Monday, with an additional surge of moisture expected Tuesday night through Wednesday. Rainfall totals through Wednesday night are predicted to range from 2 to 5 inches, with some lower elevations of the Cascades and Olympics potentially receiving up to 12 inches of rain.
Snow levels will be higher in the mountains, with feet of snow anticipated above 6,000 to 7,000 feet in parts of the Cascades, Olympics, and northern Rockies.
This weather pattern will also bring strong wind gusts to the region, with speeds ranging from 30 to 50 mph along Washington and Oregon. In Montana, High Wind Alerts are in effect due to this system, with gusts of up to 70 mph possible on Monday night into Tuesday.
The breaking news coverage was reported by Mirna Alsharif for NBC News. Christine Rapp, a meteorologist for NBC News, and Selina Guevara, an NBC News field producer based in Chicago, also contributed to this report.
