A potent lake-effect snowstorm is poised to blanket the Great Lakes region from late Wednesday through Friday, threatening to create whiteout conditions and significantly disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans. Winter Storm Watches have been issued for areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, signaling the potential for hazardous conditions. The storm is fueled by arctic air trailing a departing system from the Plains, which will interact with the relatively warmer waters of the Great Lakes, leading to the development of intense and persistent snow bands.