Northeast getting ready for the first significant snowstorm of the season

PORTLAND, Maine Residents in the Northeast were preparing Tuesday for the region's initial major snowstorm of the winter, while the Midwest began recovering from snow and ice that disrupted travel over the Thanksgiving holiday. Northern New England could see snowfall reaching up to 10 inches (25.4 centimeters).

Meteorologists warned of a windy storm with icy conditions that may bring rain to some areas while depositing significant snow in others across the six-state region. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, and New York ahead of the storms arrival.

This winter event comes shortly after Chicago OHare International Airport recorded over 8 inches (20.32 centimeters) of snow during the past weekend, marking the heaviest single-day snowfall for November at the airport since 1951. Although snow was easing in the Great Lakes region, a new storm system was moving toward the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow possible by Tuesday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Orrison.

For many areas, this will be the first substantial snowfall of the season, Orrison said. Coastal Maine is under a warning from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning, with officials advising residents to postpone travel if possible.

New Hampshire's Department of Transportation encouraged residents to participate in its second annual snowplow-naming contest. The department described it as a playful twist on a classic story: Hawthorne had gables. We have orange snowplows waiting for the perfect name. Last years winning name was Ctrl-Salt-Delete. Winners for this season will be announced in January.

In Pennsylvania, crews began pre-treating the 565-mile (909-kilometer) turnpike system on Monday as plowable snow was forecasted. Vehicle restrictions on many eastern interstates, including the turnpikes Northeast Extension from the Lehigh Valley to Clarks Summit, were set to begin at 5 a.m. Tuesday. More than 600 operators and safety personnel were on standby to maintain the 2,900 miles (4,667 kilometers) of lanes, with 23 maintenance sheds staffed around the clock. Snow preparation is a year-round effort, said the turnpikes press secretary, Marissa Orbanek.

Travelers in Chicago experienced delays as winter weather continued to affect the Great Lakes region. Don Herrian, a 76-year-old retiree from Ardmore, Oklahoma, faced multiple delayed flights while returning home from Indianapolis after Thanksgiving. Roads around OHare remained congested despite clearing efforts, and planes were being de-iced at multiple airports, including Ronald Reagan Washington National and MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Author: Sophia Brooks