46 million under winter weather alerts as heavy snow threatens post-Thanksgiving travel

Some 46 million people from the northern Rockies to the Northeast remain under winter weather alerts into the weekend, as two weather systems threaten to disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel with chilly temperatures, heavy snow and dangerous driving conditions

Some 46 million people from the northern Rockies to the Northeast remain under winter weather alerts into the weekend, as two weather systems threaten to disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel with chilly temperatures, heavy snow and dangerous driving conditions.

Heavy lake-effect snow will continue across the Great Lakes region from Friday through early Saturday morning, with snow squalls bringing quick bursts of heavy snow and potential whiteout conditions for the interior Northeast on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

More than 2,200 flights traveling to, from or within the U.S. were delayed as of Friday afternoon, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, with 50 flights canceled.

That storm already fueled rounds of heavy lake-effect snow across portions of the Plains and Great Lakes through Thanksgiving. As of early Friday morning, there were reports of snowfall as high as 22 inches in Presque Isle, Wisconsin; 21.5 inches in Alba, Michigan; 8.7 inches in Tupper Lake, New York; 8.1 inches in Chagrin Falls, Ohio; and 7 inches in Elgin, Pennsylvania.

Scattered snow showers will linger through the day Friday, with conditions slowly winding down Saturday morning, forecasters said.