Winter storm to hit millions of travelers returning from Thanksgiving trips

The millions of U.S. travelers who battled a nightmarish mix of winter weather en route to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations can expect more of the same for the trip home as a coast-to-coast winter storm system brings snow, rain and heavy winds to major travel hubs across the country, weather experts say.

The storm, which originated on the West Coast, was headed to the upper Midwest and Northeast, with Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and New York expected to experience the worst of the wintry precipitation early Sunday - just as the return leg of the busiest travel holiday of the year hits its peak.

Hurley called the expanse of the storm "Impressive": What started as a deep cyclone off the West Coast has become a "Coast-to-coast storm."

The heaviest of the anticipated winter weather, including snow or ice, will generally be north of Interstate 80, which stretches east and west in the upper third of the country, while the heaviest snow accumulation will be the eight to 16 inches that could fall on portions of Minnesota, the northern two-thirds of Wisconsin and upper Michigan, Hurley said.

As the storm system moves eastward, Pennsylvania, much of New York state and New England are forecast to see snow accumulation by early Sunday near the north-south I-95 corridor toward Massachusetts, Hurley said.

"Airports along the coast will be looking at lower visibility, and that will make for tougher travel coming out of the Northeast," Hurley added.

The West Coast isn't being spared from inclement weather: Another storm system hanging off the coast of California is forecast to bring heavy rains in Northern California, especially in the mountains and foothills of San Francisco, Oakland and across the Sierra, Hurley said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/11/30/winter-storm-hit-millions-travelers-returning-thanksgiving-trips/