New nor’easter snowstorm to cause further travel disruptions following weekend flight cancellations

A new winter storm is forecast to affect extensive regions of the United States this week, following another system that already disrupted post-Thanksgiving travel plans. Over the recent weekend, flights were canceled nationwide as the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Central Plains experienced a surge of cold air.

According to experts, up to six inches of snow may accumulate in some areas by Tuesday, as millions of Americans prepare for more travel difficulties. The National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center noted that a winter storm will impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast starting Monday evening, bringing snow and ice to inland areas and creating hazardous driving conditions.

The storm is expected to first affect Kansas and Missouri with snow, transitioning to steady rain moving across Mississippi, Alabama, western Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky. Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are predicted to see snow Monday night, followed by New York and New England. Some parts of New England may receive over a foot of snow before the storm changes to rain.

Weather analysts anticipate cold conditions persisting throughout the first ten days of December. FOX Forecast Center reports that more than 235 million Americans will face temperatures at or below freezing, describing the cold snap as unusually severe. The extreme temperatures are linked to a weakening Polar Vortex combined with the La Nia weather pattern.

This storm follows a recent system that struck on Friday and Saturday, dumping up to 25 inches of snow in New York, Iowa, and Michigan. The severe weather caused widespread travel disruptions over Thanksgiving weekend, with 12,350 flights delayed and 1,020 canceled nationwide on Sunday. Chicago OHare International Airport alone experienced 1,030 cancellations and around 800 delays on Saturday.

Incidents included a plane sliding off an icy runway at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa. The Endeavor flight, part of Delta Air Lines, landed Saturday night and slid off the runway onto a taxiway. All 54 passengers were safely deplaned using stairs and transported to the terminal by bus. Weather alerts affected approximately 53 million people across states from South Dakota to New York.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny warned that travel disruptions could continue throughout the holiday period. She emphasized that crews may face challenges keeping roads clear as the storm pattern persists into early December.

Author's Commentary: Preparing for Another Severe Winter Week

The upcoming winter storm represents a continuation of extreme weather patterns that have already disrupted travel across the United States. Millions of Americans face the prospect of accumulating snow, icy conditions, and continued delays in transportation. The forecast suggests that regions from the Midwest to New England will be heavily affected, with some areas expecting over a foot of snow.

Given the scope of the storm, the National Weather Service’s warnings are especially relevant. Drivers and travelers should anticipate hazardous conditions, and transportation authorities will need to maintain heightened readiness. Airports, in particular, remain vulnerable, as demonstrated by the recent incidents in Chicago and Des Moines.

Analysts link this persistent cold and snowfall to a weakening Polar Vortex combined with La Niña, signaling that similar disruptions may continue through early December. While preparation and caution can reduce risk, the scale of the storm underlines the broader challenge of managing severe winter weather across multiple states simultaneously.

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• Major nor’easter snowstorm to bring more travel chaos after thousands of flights cancelled over weekend