An Arctic blast continues to disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel across the Northern U.S., with millions of people under winter alerts. The harsh weather conditions, characterized by snow, frost, and dangerously cold winds, have hit the northern Plains, the Midwest, and the Great Lakes, making travel conditions "very difficult to impossible."

The lake effect snow showers, triggered by the clash of the south-moving arctic blast and the comparatively warm lake water, have affected nearly 3 million people in parts of New York state, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. More than 2.3 million people in parts of New York state, Michigan, Minnesota, and West Virginia are under winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories.

The heaviest snowfall has been reported in upstate New York and parts of Pennsylvania and Michigan, with some areas receiving nearly 4 feet of snow over the weekend. Officials in Jefferson County, New York, reported an accumulated snowfall of nearly 46 inches along the Black River. In response to the severe weather, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in multiple counties, including Erie, Oswego, and Allegany.

The lake effect snow is expected to continue falling in western and north New York through Monday, with residents anticipating 1 to 4 inches of snow per hour. The highest snow accumulations are expected east of Lake Ontario, where some isolated areas could receive up to 60 inches of snow by early in the week.

In Pennsylvania, Erie County has recorded 30 inches of snow, the most so far, with federal forecasters predicting as much as 6 feet of snow could cover the ground in northern Erie County by Tuesday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a disaster emergency proclamation and recommended that schools remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.

The weather service office in Cleveland has warned that as much as 18 inches of lake effect snow could affect travel throughout the snowbelt, the region southeast of Lake Erie, with an additional 2 to 10 inches of snow expected through Monday in cities like Traverse City, Marquette, and Ironwood in Michigan, and Milwaukee in Wisconsin.

Dr. Bob Martin