By early Sunday morning, more than 450 U.S. flights had been canceled, according to FlightAware, with Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport facing the heaviest setbacks. O’Hare alone recorded 179 cancellations, including 110 departing flights, after already enduring more than a thousand cancellations and delays on Saturday.
Record Snowfall in Chicago
Snowfall at O’Hare reached 8.4 inches by midnight, breaking the city’s previous November daily record of 8.0 inches set in 1951. Across the Chicago metro area, totals ranged from 7 to 10 inches, creating hazardous conditions for travelers and residents.
Broader Weather Impacts
The FAA warned that heavy snow and ice across the Upper Great Lakes, combined with thunderstorms in the Southern Plains, would continue to affect operations on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Millions heading home from Thanksgiving are likely to face continued delays as the storm system moves east.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — After a stormy start to Sunday, a strong cold front has made it off the coast putting an end to the storms.
Cloudy, breezy and chilly conditions will follow. Temperatures on Sunday will drop in the 40s all day. The winter-like air will continue when we go back to work and school on Monday with temperatures staying in the 40s. Rain returns on Monday as well as we track low pressure developing in the Gulf.
What should we expect Sunday and Monday behind the cold front?
It’s going to feel like winter has arrived! Sunday it will be cloudy, cold, and windy with a small chance of lingering rain showers behind the front. Temperatures will hover in the 40s most of the day. Monday will be even colder with widespread rain showers. The rain will likely keep our temperatures trapped in the 40s all day, so it will be a rude welcome back to work and school after the long holiday weekend.
How long will the cold air stick around?
It will stay chilly through Tuesday, then warm slightly Wednesday and Thursday as the mild Gulf breeze returns.
When else could it rain this week?
Another rainmaker looks to blow in Thursday and depart on Friday. For now we have a 60% chance of thunderstorms on Thursday and a 40% chance of showers on Friday.
When could we get our first freeze?
We have no freezing weather in forecast over the next 10 days, and long range signals indicate we probably have to wait until mid December at the earliest for a chance of freezing weather in Houston. On average, Houston historically gets its first freeze during the second week of December.
Visitors can stroll through 11 uniquely themed holiday villages across Downtown’s North and South Poles. Favorites such as Tinsel Town, Winter Wonderlawn, Ice @ Discovery Green, Peppermint Plaza, and Texas Winter Lights return with immersive lights, decorated trees, photo-friendly surprises, and new festive touches. Most villages are free, only Winter Wonderlawn, Texas Winter Lights, Astros Light up the Park, and the Ice Rink at Discovery Green require a ticket purchase.
Ice @ Discovery Green (Discovery Green) – ticket purchase required.
Peppermint Plaza (Avenida Plaza) – free
Land of Sweets (Hilton Americas) – free
Twinkle Town (Trebly Park) – free
For more details on activations at each village, schedules, purchasing tickets, parking, a map and more, go here.
Entrance to Winter Wonderlawn requires a ticket.
A Holiday Tradition for the City
City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic brings together local organizations, arts partners, and businesses to create a joyful, family-friendly celebration. With glowing installations, seasonal music, and plenty of sparkling moments, the event marks the start of a magical holiday season in the heart of Houston.
Downtown Houston is glowing brighter than ever as City Lights Downtown Holiday Magicreturns with eleven festive villages — and this year, one dazzling newcomer is stealing the show. Astros Light Up the Park, presented by Methodist and hosted at Daikin Park, transforms the home of the Houston Astros into a full-scale holiday lights experience perfect for families, fans, and anyone ready to step into the spirit of the season.
A Holiday Home Run at Daikin Park
Astros Light Up the Park invites visitors to wander through 12 immersive light exhibits celebrating the ballclub and the city that loves them. From northern-lights-inspired tunnels to Houston landmark displays and baseball-themed wonderlands, every corner feels like a chapter in a sparkling Astros story.
The centerpiece is a winter scene complete with gentle snowfall swirling around a massive holiday tree built from oversized baseball ornaments — a whimsical twist that blends sports pride with seasonal magic. Interactive installations and photo-ready moments at every turn keep fans of all ages entertained. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Astros Foundation, extending the holiday cheer into the greater Houston community.
Eleven Villages, One Connected Holiday Adventure
While Astros Light Up the Park headlines the season’s festivities, the full City Lights experience offers a holiday playground stretching across Downtown. Visitors can explore:
Winter Wonderlawn at POST Houston, a rooftop winter escape glowing with thousands of lights and skyline views.
Tinsel Town at Market Square Park, filled with free family activities, Santa photos, and nightly entertainment.
Deck the Trees at Alley Theatre, where artist-designed holiday trees accompany the theater’s seasonal productions.
Jingle Town at Lynn Wyatt Square, blending live performances, cocoa, crafts, and pre-show fun.
City Hall-iday Lights, presenting the annual tree lighting celebration hosted by Mayor John Whitmire and Reliant.
Texas Winter Lights at Marriott Marquis, a rooftop Texas-style winter wonderland with snowfall, music, and photo ops.
Ice @ Discovery Green, the city’s beloved outdoor ice rink with themed skate nights and a new custom light display.
Peppermint Plaza at the George R. Brown Convention Center, showcasing an artistic tree exhibition and live holiday performances.
Land of Sweets at Hilton Americas–Houston, dressed in sparkling lights and featuring a life-size Disneyland-themed chocolate installation.
Twinkle Town at Trebly Park, complete with a Candy Cane Tunnel, Texas’ largest mistletoe ball, pet photos with Santa, and hands-on holiday workshops.
Together, these villages turn Downtown Houston into a walkable winter escape, connected by METRORail’s festive Holiday Express, Park Once zones, and even new “Reindeer Rides” — complimentary electric vehicle shuttles on select nights.
A Season to Explore
With sights, sounds, flavors, and lights stretching across the city center, Houston’s holiday season promises an experience sweeter and brighter than ever. But for Astros fans and festive explorers alike, Astros Light Up the Park at Daikin Park is the must-see attraction that brings hometown magic to life — one glowing pitch at a time.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing back after a Washington Post report alleged he ordered the U.S. military to kill all passengers aboard a drug-suspected boat struck in the Caribbean on Sept. 2. According to the report, two survivors initially clung to the wreckage before a second strike was ordered to prevent them from calling for help.
Hegseth: Strikes Were Lawful and Intended to Be Lethal
In a post on X, Hegseth said the operations were meant to be “lethal, kinetic strikes” and insisted they were lawful under U.S. and international law. He added that all actions were reviewed and approved “up and down the chain of command.”
Conflicting Accounts and Unanswered Questions
A person familiar with the incident confirmed to ABC News that survivors from the first strike were killed in later strikes. ABC News has not verified the exact orders given by Hegseth or Adm. Mitch Bradley, the reported officer who ordered the follow-up attack.
Questions remain about why survivors weren’t recovered, especially since the military rescued survivors in a later, similar operation and repatriated them to Ecuador and Colombia.
Legal and Ethical Scrutiny Intensifies
Critics and legal experts argue the strikes may violate the Geneva Conventions, which require wounded combatants to be collected and cared for. Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed have called for “vigorous oversight” to determine what happened and whether any orders broke the law.
A Broad Campaign Against Suspected Drug Boats
The strikes are part of a wider U.S. campaign targeting vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. More than 20 strikes have reportedly killed over 80 people. The Trump administration maintains the operations are justified because drug cartels have been designated as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
Many legal experts call this rationale unprecedented, saying the U.S. should rely on law enforcement—not military force—to seize narcotics and arrest suspects.
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that all airspace above and around Venezuela is now fully closed. In a statement on Truth Social, he urged “all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers” to regard the area as completely off-limits.
U.S. Warns Airlines of Heightened Risks
The announcement follows a recent advisory from the U.S. aviation regulator, which cautioned major airlines about a “potentially hazardous situation” due to worsening security conditions and increased military activity in and around Venezuela.
Venezuela Revokes Airline Permissions
In response to escalating tensions, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international carriers. Those airlines had already suspended service after the FAA issued its warning.
What Comes Next
The developments mark another escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations, raising uncertainty for international travel and air safety in the region.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Our focus is now on a weather system blowing in this weekend that could bring severe storms Saturday, especially at night when a strong cold front arrives. This cold front will make it feel more like winter when we go back to work and school on Monday as a chilly rain could keep temperatures in the 40s all day.
Why is there an ABC13 Weather Watch for Saturday?
Severe storms are possible again on Saturday as a travel-disrupting storm system blows through the Plains. Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and brief, isolated tornadoes look to be possible as early as Saturday afternoon but are more likely Saturday night when the actual cold front arrives. The afternoon storms may not materialize if the moisture return is weak, but if thunderstorms do develop in the afternoon, they are likely to rotate, which would increase the risk of tornadoes. Any storms developing ahead of the cold front Saturday evening could also rotate and produce tornadoes, but when the solid line of storms arrives with the front, the greater threat will be from damaging wind gusts and large hail. This weather system will also bring widespread snow across the northern Plains and Midwest, so it could cause travel delays over the holiday weekend.
What should we expect after the cold front for Sunday and Monday?
It’s going to be cold! Sunday it will be cloudy, cold, and windy with a small chance of lingering rain showers behind the front. Temperatures will hover in the 40s most of the day and then briefly climb above 50 degrees in the afternoon. Monday will be even colder with widespread rain showers. The rain will likely keep our temperatures trapped in the 40s all day, so it will be a rude welcome back to work and school after the long holiday weekend.
Thanksgiving is often seen as a day of turkey, family gatherings, and full plates—but its history reaches far deeper than a dinner table tradition. The holiday has taken many forms over the centuries, shaped by cultural narratives, national hardships, and an ongoing effort to understand its meaning in a modern, diverse America.
A Complicated Beginning
The commonly taught story centers on a 1621 harvest feast shared by Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in what is now Massachusetts. While there was a shared meal, the fuller context—marked by colonization, conflict, and profound loss for Native peoples—is much more complex. For many Indigenous communities, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and remembrance. Acknowledging these stories does not diminish the holiday; instead, it helps us understand its full history and honor those whose experiences were historically left out.
From Local Rituals to a National Tradition
Thanksgiving wasn’t always a nationwide holiday. Colonial governors and local leaders declared days of thanks after successful harvests, wartime victories, or survival through difficult winters. It wasn’t until 1863, amid the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to unify a fractured country. His message emphasized gratitude, humility, and healing—values still relevant today.
In the centuries that followed, presidents continued issuing Thanksgiving proclamations, shaping the holiday’s tone around unity, blessings, and charitable responsibility.
Why Thanksgiving Still Matters Today
Macy’s first Thanksgiving parade in 1924.
Thanksgiving endures not because of its mythology, but because of the values people continue to draw from it:
1. A Moment to Pause in a Fast-Paced World In a culture that rarely slows down, Thanksgiving gives families, friends, and communities a reason to gather, reflect, and reconnect.
2. An Opportunity to Honor Many Histories More people are choosing to use Thanksgiving as both a celebration and a moment of education—recognizing Indigenous history, supporting Native communities, and making space for honest conversations about America’s past.
3. A Season of Generosity Thanksgiving consistently inspires volunteerism, food drives, and acts of service. The holiday has become a rallying point to fight hunger and support those in need during the winter months.
4. A Reminder of Shared Humanity At its core, Thanksgiving encourages gratitude—a simple but transformative mindset that strengthens relationships, reduces stress, and fosters community.
A Holiday Still Growing The meaning of Thanksgiving continues to evolve. Today, many households blend tradition with new perspectives: sharing meals, acknowledging complex history, practicing gratitude, and giving back. Its enduring importance comes not from its origins alone, but from how each generation chooses to reshape it.
Thanksgiving remains a day of connection—rooted in reflection, enriched by diversity, and strengthened by the universal desire to gather, give thanks, and move forward together.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We are in for some delightfully chilly weather Thanksgiving Day, but stormy weather returns this weekend. We now have an ABC13 Weather Watch for Saturday with severe storms possible.
How much cooler will it be for Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving morning will have a chill in the air as temperatures will start off in the mid-to-upper 40s and with a northeast breeze it will feel about 5 degrees colder. It’ll be a bit chilly if you’re heading downtown to the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade with temperatures warming through the 50s during the parade. We’ll have lots of sunshine to push temps into the mid 60s for the afternoon. If you don’t want to bundle up and watch the parade downtown, remember that you can watch it live on ABC13 starting at 9 a.m.
Will the weather still be nice for Friday?
Yes! The temperatures will be similar to what we experience on Thanksgiving, but there will be less sunshine as clouds increase ahead of Saturday’s storm system.
Why is there an ABC13 Weather Watch for Saturday?
Severe storms are possible again on Saturday as a travel-disrupting storm system blows through the Plains. Large hail and isolated tornadoes look to be possible at this time here in Southeast Texas. These storms will occur ahead of a cold front arriving Saturday night that should bring a cold start to the month of December. This weather system will also bring widespread snow across the northern Plains and Midwest, so it could cause travel delays over the holiday weekend.
Are any winter storms or freezing weather in our forecast?
Not at this time, but we’re keeping an eye on the potential for frost or a light freeze around Tuesday. For now we are predicting a low of 39 in Houston on Tuesday morning, but it’s possible the air could come in several degrees colder depending upon how much snow falls in Plains over the weekend.
What is happening in the tropics?
Tropical development is not expected in the Atlantic Basin over the next 7 days. The last day of hurricane season is this Sunday, November 30th. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.
The death toll from the devastating fire at a residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has climbed to 55, officials said Thursday. Fifty-one victims died at the scene, while four others succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Authorities report 76 people still receiving medical care, including 15 in critical condition and 28 in serious condition.
Fires Still Burning Across the Complex
Blazes continue in three of the seven affected buildings, though firefighters say they are now under control. Seven of the eight towers in the Wang Fuk Court estate were impacted. More than 800 firefighters, paramedics, and over 140 fire engines were deployed, with drones assisting the response.
Investigators Focus on Renovation Materials
Police have arrested three men linked to the construction firm overseeing renovations. Investigators believe substandard mesh and large amounts of Styrofoam installed in windows and exterior walls acted as accelerants. These materials were found in the only building that escaped fire damage.
Hundreds Missing, Leaders Express Condolences
Authorities say 279 people remain unaccounted for. Hong Kong leader John Lee called the loss of life—including that of a firefighter—deeply tragic and offered condolences to affected families. Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed sympathy and urged officials to prioritize search, rescue, medical care, and post-disaster support.
