A powerful lake-effect snowstorm slammed the Great Lakes region this Thanksgiving morning, creating life-threatening whiteout conditions and shutting down major travel routes across multiple states. The harshest impact struck areas south of Lake Michigan, where visibility dropped to near zero, leaving drivers stranded on icy highways and forcing emergency responders to navigate treacherous conditions.

A widely circulated video shows red taillights barely visible through blinding sheets of snow on Michigan roadways such as I-90, capturing the severity of the storm as winds drove heavy bands of lake-effect snow across state lines. The fast-moving system intensified overnight, rapidly overwhelming plow crews and creating conditions too dangerous for motorists to continue.

Part of I-90 near Erie, Pennsylvania, was closed early Thursday morning after conditions deteriorated beyond safe levels. Authorities warned that drifting snow, flash freezes, and whiteouts would continue throughout the day, urging travelers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Millions of holiday travelers across Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and New York faced major disruptions as flights were delayed, highways backed up for miles, and emergency advisories were issued across the region.

Meteorologists reported that this storm marks one of the earliest and strongest lake-effect snow events on record, fueled by unusually cold air sweeping across the Great Lakes. The result was a series of intense, narrow snow bands that hit populated corridors at the worst possible time—during peak Thanksgiving travel.

State officials are coordinating with federal agencies to clear major routes, reopen closed segments of I-90, and deploy additional resources to assist stranded motorists. With snowfall totals climbing and conditions expected to worsen in some regions, authorities are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution and prepare for extended travel delays.

For millions attempting to reach family gatherings, the storm delivered a harsh reminder of how quickly lake-effect weather can escalate from inconvenient to dangerous, turning Thanksgiving morning into a hazardous battle against the elements.