5k flights cancelled or delayed as ‘snowpocalypse’ hits the US as once-in-a-generation storm

Nearly 5,000 flights have been delayed or canceled on the busiest travel day of the year as the US braces for a once-in-a-generation storm that is set to impact nearly every state and guarantee a white Christmas in the Midwest. 

Snow has already begun to fall across the Midwest on Wednesday evening and will only intensify throughout Thursday and Friday with temperatures dropping 40 degrees in Wyoming in just a half an hour. 

For those hoping to catch flights home for the holiday could be facing another nightmare, much like the summertime travel season, with plenty of flights already canceling, especially in the Midwest. 

Out of the nearly 3,000 delays as of Thursday around noon, Chicago O’Hare rang in number one with the most delays at 128. Denver International came in second with 88 and Chicago Midway came in third with nine. 

All three also rang in at the top of the cancelation board with Chicago O’Hare postponing 268flights, Denver with 248, and Chicago Midway with 132. 

Nearly 5,000 flights have been delayed or canceled on the busiest travel day of the year as the US braces for a once-in-a-generation storm (pictured: Chicago travelers) 

Out of the nearly 3,000 delays as of Thursday around noon, Chicago O’Hare (pictured) rang in number one with the most delays at 128. Denver International came in second with 88 and Chicago Midway came in third with nine 

All three also rang in at the top of the cancelation board with Chicago O’Hare (pictured) postponing 268flights, Denver with 248, and Chicago Midway with 132 

The busiest travel day could bring summertime flashback with delays and cancelations as travelers across the Midwest are expected to endure a snowpocalypse, with some areas getting up to 24 inches (pictured: travelers at a Minnesota airport)

One Minnesota traveler got festive as he traveled through the airport with his children as he wore a Santa hat 

Plenty of travelers waited in line at Terminal 1 in the MSP Airport in Minnesota ahead of their holiday travels 

Northeastern Illinois – where Chicago is located – is under a winter storm warning from noon today until 6am on Saturday with the expectation the area will get three to six inches of snow, but could reach up to one inch per hour. 

With wind gusts up to 50mph and wind chills as low as 25 to 35 below zero tonight through Friday night, Chicago and the surrounding areas can expect whiteout conditions and roads will become icy overnight. 

A few states over, in Wyoming, have already begun experiencing complete white-out conditions and extreme straight-line winds.  

The Wyoming Highway Patrol posted videos showing the conditions in Cheyenne, as it encouraged residents to ‘please stay home.’ 

The trooper’s car can be seen rattling as snow is whipping across the hood of his car in a tornado-like effect. The only thing visible in the commotion is the car’s headlights. 

‘Current view from a Troopers car in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Current conditions outside of Cheyenne are -18 with zero visibility,’ the Wyoming Highway Patrol wrote in a Facebook post. 

Winter Storm Elliot is expected to dump plenty of snow across the Midwest and Plains throughout Thursday and Friday, with some areas getting up to 24 inches 

This could be the coldest Christmas weekend in decades as many US states are falling in the 15 degree range, with the Great Plains getting as cold as -30F 

Wind chill will also be an issue throughout the Great Plains, which could get up to -50 degrees 

A Minnesota highway is already covered in snow and backed-up from accidents on Wednesday night 

The Capitol Building in Iowa is barely visible as heavy snow falls on Wednesday evening 

In another video, an emergency vehicle can be seen with its lights on as snow is whipped across the roadways. The pavement is barely visible. 

‘Nope, the Trooper didn’t make a wrong turn and end up in Antarctica,’ it joked. 

It also revealed that troopers had responded to more than 780 calls for service, including nearly 200 motorists who needed assistance and more than 100 crashes. 

Winter Storm Elliot has intensified to be classified as a ‘bomb cyclone,’ which can bring blizzard-like conditions through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes area. The East and South can also expect a possible flash freeze due to high winds, according to the Weather Channel.  

Blizzard warnings have been issued for parts of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and the Great Lakes – with Buffalo, Des Moines, and Grand Rapids having the highest chances of experiencing these conditions. 

Winter storm warnings and weather advisories are in effect for the Northern Plains to the mid-South, which Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, and Memphis being located in concerning areas. 

Near white-out conditions were seen last night in Cheyenne, Wyoming (pictured) as high winds and snow decreased visibility

Denver also already gotten some snow and visibility has begun to lessen 

A farm is covered in snow in Minnesota on Thursday after a night of snowfall 

The Weather Channel advises residents in those areas avoid travel at all cost as it could be ‘difficult or impossible.’ 

Rain is expected to hit the East Coast starting on Thursday, which could turn into freezing rain or sleet throughout the Northeast, expect the northern part of New England and Upstate New York, according to the Whether Channel. 

Rain is expected along the Interstate 95 corridor throughout Thursday. 

On Friday, the storm will reach its peak in the Great Lakes from Norther Wisconsin to Western New York. 

The Northeast can expect a bitter cold after the rain passes through and turns to ice. Georgia and the Carolinas are expected to have high winds throughout Friday. 

By the end of the Friday, Erie, Pennsylvania could get up to 18 inches of snow, while Buffalo can expect 12 inches. Cleveland is expected to get up to five inches of snow, while Boston and DC are getting one to inches of rain.  

By Saturday, the storm will move on the America’s northern neighbor, but strong winds are still expected to last.