CHICAGO (AP) – A wintry mix of Gulf Coast thunderstorms expected to travel north, predicted snowfall in the Great Lakes and blustery conditions in the nation’s midsection threatened Tuesday to snag holiday travel plans nationwide.
While snow fell in some Midwestern states Tuesday – nearly 2 feet in South Dakota’s Black Hills – a strong storm system expected to drop rain along the East Coast and snow from Missouri to Michigan developed in Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana, among other southern states. The severe storms in the South killed at least four people, damaged homes, businesses and cars, and knocked out power to thousands.
As the storms tore their way across the South, there were some delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – though airport spokesman Reese McCranie said in an email he was not aware of any cancellations. He said the airport did not expect a ground stop.
Meteorologists predicted rain-into-snow for parts of the Great Lakes region, with several inches of Christmas Eve snow expected in portions of Illinois. Officials at both airport hubs in the nation’s third-largest city readied for the potential of holiday delays and cancellations, particularly with more people expected to fly this year.
“I’d be nervous about the possibility of not being able to get out,” said Chicago area meteorologist Charles Mott. “I would definitely make plans about possibly staying put or doing something else.”