Massive winter storm slams Midwest with heavy snow, causing hundreds of crashes, over 1,000 canceled flights
The Iowa State Patrol reported 182 crashes and 488 motorist assists from the dangerous winter storm due to snow on highways.
Winter storm leaves Southern Illinois roads in rough condition
Roads in Missouri and Illinois area are covered in snow, leaving them slick and dangerous for travel. Several crashes and stalled vehicles on St. Louis highways have led to partial land closures on Saturday. Video from Maryville, Illinois, showed conditions.
A major winter storm blasted parts of the Midwest and the Central U.S. this weekend with heavy snowfall, causing travel nightmares for millions of people as they return home from Thanksgiving plans.
Over 1,000 flights to and from Chicago airports were canceled in 24 hours, with more disruptions expected through this weekend. Flights to O'Hare were delayed on average by five hours on Saturday.
Major crashes were reported throughout the Central U.S. on Saturday, including a 45-car pile-up that shut down I-70 near Vigo County, Indiana.
Winter Storm Warnings stretched across most of the Upper Midwest, covering areas from South Dakota and Nebraska to Ohio and Indiana through Sunday.
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Scenes like this semi-truck rolling over in Putnam County, Indiana continued from the "terrible" snowy conditions, per the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
Chicago and Milwaukee are likely to see 8-12 inches of snow, with some places in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin potentially seeing more than a foot of snow by Sunday.
The Iowa State Patrol reported 182 crashes and 488 motorist assists from the winter storm due to snow on highways.
ISP Calls for Service: November 28 - 29, 2025 (12 PM - 9 PM)
— Iowa State Patrol (@iowastatepatrol) November 30, 2025
670 Calls for Service
182 - Total Crashes Covered
164 - Property Damage
18 - Personal Injury
0 - Fatal
488 - Motorist Assist pic.twitter.com/iRnYRIFTN6
A ground stop was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration at both Midway and O'Hare due to deteriorating weather conditions on Saturday, halting flights at the major travel hub.
"Chicago is by far the worst airport in the country when it comes to travel disruptions today," FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar said.
In Springfield, Illinois, a Snow Emergency was declared through 8 a.m. CT on Sunday.
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Image 1 of 4Several slide offs and crashes closed I-70 westbound between the 13 and 15-mile markers, near Terre Haute, Indiana (Indiana Department of Transportation: West Central)
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Image 2 of 4A multi-car pile up in Grant County, Indiana on I-69 resulted in a temporary road closure. (Grant County Sheriff's Office)
![Photo shows a driveway and cars covered in snow in O'Fallon, MO.]()
Image 3 of 4Photo shows a driveway and cars covered in snow in O'Fallon, MO. (Rebecca Witte Smith/Facebook )
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Image 4 of 4The Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Indiana responded to 12 motor vehicle crashes in the span of two hours on Saturday as snow continues to fall in the Midwest. (Putnam County Sheriff's Office)
Significant snowfall was recorded across parts of Iowa on Saturday, with between 3 and 5 inches reported in central Iowa cities.
Most of Iowa could see upward of a foot of snow by Sunday morning, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
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Iowa Department of Transportation traffic maps showed major interstates across most of the state fully covered in snow, and warned that travelers should be ready to change their plans to hit the roads.
(FOX Weather)
A series of interstate highways across the Midwest have been affected by the major snowstorm in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Statewide crash numbers for 11/29/25 4pm-9pm: 104 crashes (2 non-life threatening injuries) an additional 124 spun out/ran off road requiring Trooper/tow assistance & 5 jackknifed semis. Road info https://t.co/UtVIO3l2qZ pic.twitter.com/9m39mHKgRs
— Sgt. Jesse Grabow (@MSPPIO_NW) November 30, 2025
Snow-covered highways in the St. Louis area led to multiple crashes and stalled vehicles, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Heavy snow buries Des Moines as winter storm blasts millions
Des Moines Airport has recorded nearly 4 inches of snow on Saturday as a winter storm dumps snow on the Midwest this weekend. FOX Weather Storm Specialist Mike Seidel reports from downtown Des Moines where heavy snow continues to fall and coat roads.
The St. Louis metro area reported between 3 and 5 inches of snow on Saturday.
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(FOX Weather)
Major airport hubs like Chicago O'Hare and Midway, Milwaukee Mitchell International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Detroit Metropolitan are likely to see flight disruptions through the weekend.
By Monday, travel troubles should ease up as conditions improve across the country.
(FOX Weather)
Stay with FOX Weather for extended live coverage tracking the major snowstorm through the weekend.