Chicago scraps flights as major storm brings snow to Midwest

Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg News on Nov 29, 2025

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Hundreds of flights have been canceled in and around Chicago and roads are becoming treacherous as one of the busiest travel weekends of the year collides with a major storm bringing wintery conditions throughout the U.S. Midwest Saturday.

Winter storm warnings and weather advisories stretch from Montana to western Ohio as a large swath of the region is forecast to get 6 to 12 inches of snow, according to William Churchill, a forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center. Chicago, a major air hub for U.S. travelers, may see a peak of 10 inches of snow, which will continue through early Sunday.

“It is a pretty impressive winter storm that is going to be moving through those areas,” Churchill said.

As of 6 a.m. in New York, 656 flights in and around the U.S. have been canceled, with 518 starting or ending in Chicago, according to airline tracking service FlightAware. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is the hardest hit. Heavy snow and rain is forecast to get to Detroit late Saturday as well. Highways throughout the region will be swept with gusty winds and snow, making travel after the Thanksgiving holiday difficult.

“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of emergency,” the National Weather Service warned drivers across Iowa and Illinois. “Persons should consider delaying all travel.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds urged travelers to be cautious throughout the day.

The Quad Cities in eastern Iowa may end up with more than a foot of snow, which could challenge some records, Churchill said.

The storm’s heart will move northeast into Canada after crossing the Midwest, he added. The large cities along the U.S. East Coast will be spared any accumulation, with only the mountains of northern New York and New England getting new snow. Toronto may end up with about 2 inches overnight, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

After the storm exits, forecasters will turn their attention to another system that may bring wintery weather to the eastern U.S. starting late Monday into Tuesday, Churchill said.