As millions return home after Thanksgiving, treacherous travel conditions are expected across the Great Lakes region this Sunday. An extraordinary weather phenomenon known as lake-effect snow is set to dump another one to two feet of snow in several areas, compounding the record accumulation from recent days.

Over two million residents downwind of the Great Lakes are under various winter storm warnings, with Lake Superior and Lake Michigan already reporting heavy snowfall. States including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York are facing significant impacts, with some regions already seeing nearly four feet of snow in just a few days, as reported by the Weather Prediction Center. Saybrook, Ohio has been hit the hardest with a staggering 49.2 inches recorded so far.

Although lake-effect snow warnings in western New York are due to expire by Sunday night, residents in parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania should remain alert as those warnings are projected to last through Tuesday morning.

Forecasts indicate a persistent cold snap will grip nearly 70% of the continental U.S., with temperatures soaring below freezing. Cities such as New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati can expect unseasonably low temperatures throughout the week.

Residents in Erie, Pennsylvania, are working tirelessly to clear the mountains of snow clogging their driveways and sidewalks. Many, like Richard Korytowski, faced hours of shoveling, saying, "I expected to shovel, but not this much."

The mechanism behind lake-effect snow occurs when frigid air sweeps across warmer lakes, in this case, the Great Lakes, leading to heavy snowfall in neighboring areas. In Erie, local officials reported that some city plow drivers got stuck during cleanup efforts amid severe weather conditions.

Ohio and western New York are under a state of emergency, declared by Governor Kathy Hochul to streamline efforts for those affected. With over 100 National Guard members deployed, Hochul stated, “My administration is working around the clock.”

Pennsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro echoed similar sentiments, announcing the deployment of the National Guard to assist stranded drivers. In just 24 hours, Pennsylvania State Police reported nearly 200 incidents on the roads due to the extreme weather.

As advised by the National Weather Service, motorists across affected regions are strongly urged to stay off the roads as whiteout conditions make travel perilous. The combination of an Arctic blast descending from Canada and heavy snowfall has caused temperatures in the eastern U.S. to plunge up to 25 degrees below average.

Additional snowfall of one to two feet is anticipated for areas such as Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, and western New York, with Watertown, New York potentially receiving even more.

Reports from local areas tell of snow measuring over 42 inches in North East, Pennsylvania, while other communities in western New York dealt with similarly severe conditions.

In Ohio's Ashtabula County, residents are witnessing homes nearly disappearing beneath the white blankets of snow, while authorities manage numerous road closures due to hazardous conditions.

Weather experts are not only warning residents of difficult travel but also advising those who must drive to prepare adequately. Many people, like Matt Eisert from Columbus, Ohio, have shared their preparedness stories, ensuring they carry emergency supplies during their travels.

State transportation departments are actively working to clear roads in Ohio and New York, with certain highways imposed with speed limits and closure advisories for non-essential vehicles. In a gesture of solidarity, the Buffalo Bills football team is rallying fans to help clear the snow from Highmark Stadium ahead of their Sunday night game against the San Francisco 49ers.

As these wintery conditions persist, residents and travelers alike are hoping for an end to this relentless assault of snow that continues to disrupt lives across the Great Lakes region. The message is clear: stay safe, avoid unnecessary travel, and brace for an extended winter ahead.