Pre-Thanksgiving Storm Causes Travel Delays

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

November 28,2013; 9:28PM,EST

 

 

From the start of the week through the busiest travel delay of the year, a storm plowing through the East led up to the tranquil weather for the holiday and into the weekend.
Reports of rain, ice and snowfall accumulation came pouring in on Tuesday and Wednesday and this weather caused extensive flight delays by Wednesday night.
Philadelphia International Airport had flight delays upwards of two hours Tuesday evening. Gusting winds following the precipitation in New York caused further delays. Newark and John F. Kennedy International airports also experienced lengthy delays.
Wind gusts at JFK reached 47 mph early Wednesday morning. Even Thursday morning, there were still gusts to 43 mph.
Instagram Photo taken by Austin Swiney of snow in western Virginia Wednesday afternoon.
These relays further impacted flights around the country, including many flights in and out of Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, saw some snowflakes of their own. Wednesday became only the third day in recorded history that measurable snow fell in Atlanta in the month of November.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport also had delays. On Tuesday afternoon, more than 200 flights were delayed or canceled due to wind, rain and fog. More than 5 inches of snow fell farther west in the mountains.
As much as half an inch of ice and freezing rain covered surfaces from western Maryland, through central Pennsylvania and into northern New York. The weather brought tricky traveling conditions on the roadways and knocked out power.
Photo taken in State College, Pa., by AccuWeather Meteorologist Erik Pindrock.
Some of the highest snow totals include Stoneboro, Pa., where 9.8 inches fell before Wednesday afternoon.
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The heavy snow also crept up into Canada. The city of Ottawa had more than 7 inches (20 cm) through Wednesday morning.
Calmer, but chilly, weather will move in through Thanksgiving and into the holiday weekend.