Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport spent Sunday playing catch-up after a Saturday winter storm shut down its runway for nearly two hours on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
The National Weather Service recorded 4.7 inches of snow at MSP, disrupting plans for travelers returning home after Thanksgiving. By Saturday evening, the airport logged 33 cancellations and more than 200 delays.
Travelers described packed terminals and stranded passengers sprawled across floors waiting for updates.
Many were forced to reroute, including Sophie Geernaert of Nova Scotia, who said the storm prevented her from even reaching her original flight out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Statewide, the Minnesota State Patrol reported 139 crashes, 161 spinouts, and four jackknifed semis between Saturday night and Sunday morning. Nine crashes resulted in non-life-threatening injuries.
With more than 81.8 million Americans expected to travel over the holiday, the storm threw a wrench into already heavy traffic. Hundreds of MnDOT snowplows were deployed, and officials warned drivers to watch for slick spots on ramps, bridges, and overpasses.
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