The winter weather is nasty – including snow, ice and high winds – putting More stress on already busy post-holiday travel plans,
A bomb cyclone dumped snow on the Midwest and Northeast over the weekend, and as of Monday, 14 million people in the upper Midwest, Northeast and New England are under winter weather alerts. A blizzard warning is still in effect for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Lake effect snowfall is a concern for upstate New York, especially Buffalo. Heavy snowfall of 12 to 24 inches is expected across Lake Erie and lower Ontario, with isolated amounts of up to 36 inches. The lake effect behind the storm will continue for the next few days.
Snow in Detroit area caused many car accidents At I-75, Michigan State Police were prompted to close the northbound highway and cause major backups for travelers. State police spokesman Michael A. No injuries were reported in the accidents, Shaw said. It is unclear at this time how many accidents occurred and how many cars were involved.
And in the Northeast, icy roads are a major concern after a blizzard that swept through Friday night into Saturday and freezing rain hit the region on Monday. Up to half an inch of snow is expected from Pennsylvania to Maine, causing power outages and tree damage.
Even on Monday, 100 million people nationwide are under wind alerts, mostly in the Northeast, but also covering the Midwest, the Great Lakes and even parts of the Southern Plains. An area of rain will move eastward through the region, bringing strong winds Monday afternoon and evening.
Wind speeds may reach 50 to 60 mph and locally up to 70 mph in the Ohio Valley, Appalachians and east of the Great Lakes.
There is a possibility of tornadoes amid the heavy winds, with several tornadoes already occurring in Illinois, causing destruction and damaging homes. At least one tornado was confirmed in the state.
Airports are already facing major backups during the busiest time of year for travel. More than 10,000 flights were delayed across the country on Sunday.
As of Monday afternoon, more than 4,700 flights in the US had been delayed and more than 690 flights had been cancelled. Flight tracking website FlightAware,
Airports in the Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo areas are likely to be hardest hit by snow on Monday, and travelers at airports in Philadelphia, New York and Boston may face travel disruptions due to Monday’s rain.
For those traveling by car, AAA suggests hitting the road before 10 a.m., as afternoon and evening rush hour is heaviest.
Shaquille Brewster Contribution,
