The first big snowfall of the season blanketed towns along Lake Erie on Saturday in the middle of the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend.
Numbing cold and heavy snow are forecast to persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains, and Midwest regions.
The heavy snow led to a state of emergency declaration in parts of New York and a disaster declaration in Pennsylvania, with officials warning of dangerous conditions for Thanksgiving travelers trying to return home.
“Travel will be extremely difficult and hazardous this weekend, especially in areas where multiple feet of snow may accumulate very quickly,” the National Weather Service said.
Part of I-90 in Pennsylvania was closed, as were westbound lanes of the New York Thruway heading toward Pennsylvania. Nearly 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow fell in parts of New York, Ohio, and Michigan, and 29 inches (73 centimeters) was recorded in Pennsylvania’s northwestern tip.
Weatherley was handing out bagels, juic,e and cereal Saturday morning as people helped one another dig out their cars from the snow.
This week’s blast of Arctic air also brought temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains, the weather service said, prompting cold advisories for parts of North Dakota.
