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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Weather could hit holiday travelers

Midwest might get Christmas Eve snow

David Welborn, 7, sits in a lost luggage line Tuesday at RDU International Airport. He was with his mother and about 15 other people trying to find their bags after a cross- country flight from Washington state. (Associated Press)
Sophia Tareen Associated Press

CHICAGO – 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.”

About 4.2 million passengers are expected through O’Hare and Midway international airports during an 18-day holiday travel period ending Jan. 6, said Chicago Aviation Department spokeswoman Karen Pride.

Dozens of flights in and out of Philadelphia International Airport were canceled and others saw delays of about two hours due to bad weather and low clouds.

In eastern Colorado, Interstate 70 was shut down into Kansas because of strong winds and blowing snow.

Parts of western South Dakota saw snow accumulations of a foot or more through Tuesday morning.

Snow isn’t expected in other parts of South Dakota until Friday. Sioux Falls resident Alana Amdahl said she’s disappointed about the lack of snow projected for Christmas.

“We live in South Dakota for a reason,” said Amdahl, 27. “We don’t have palm trees to put Christmas lights on, we have evergreens. Of course, we need snow. It can melt after the new year.”