Thanksgiving Travel Disrupted by Storm Forecasting Rain and Snow Across U.S.

As Thanksgiving holiday travel commences, many have successfully reached their destinations. However, for those still on the roads or in the air, a storm tracking from the Rockies to the Midwest and Northeast may disrupt their journey. Rain and snow are expected, which could impact both flights and heavily trafficked roads.

Thanksgiving Travel Volume

On the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipated screening just shy of 3 million people. In addition, a record 71.7 million travelers were expected to travel by car over the Thanksgiving holiday, representing an increase of over 1 million travelers compared to the previous year.

Storm Forecast

The storm, which dropped snow over the Rockies and slowed down by the afternoon, is predicted to continue its eastward progression throughout Wednesday, reaching the Midwest and Northeast by Thanksgiving.

The affected areas are anticipated to experience rain, with the possibility of ice and snow. The storm's effects are expected to intensify in the evening, impacting locations from St. Louis to Indianapolis and into Pittsburgh.

Throughout the night, the storm will continue to move eastward, bringing cold rain along the I-95 corridor, affecting regions from Richmond to Boston, particularly during the early hours of Thanksgiving morning.

Travel Disruptions

As of Wednesday night, nearly 4,000 flight delays and 45 cancelled flights were reported within, into, or out of the U.S., according to FlightAware. American Airlines revealed that on the preceding day, they operated nearly 6,400 mainline and regional flights, expecting more than 650,000 customers to travel on Wednesday alone, across nearly 6,400 flights.

Ground delays at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were implemented due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, causing over 300 delays, some lasting at least 95 minutes. The FAA issued warnings of expected delays in Denver and Salt Lake City due to adverse weather conditions, with Denver experiencing 600 flight delays. Other cities, including Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Tampa, Seattle, and Los Angeles, also encountered substantial delays.

Impact on Road Travelers

For those traveling by road, rain affected I-80, I-64, and I-75, while snow impacted I-25 and I-70 in the Rockies. Thanksgiving Day is expected to witness heavy rain along the I-95 corridor from Florida to Maine and significant snow in the interior Northeast and New England.

Areas north of the Hudson Valley in upstate New York and interior New England can anticipate wet snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches, with localized totals exceeding 6 inches at the highest mountain peaks. From northeast Pennsylvania to New Hampshire, 3 to 6 inches of snow, possibly exceeding that amount, are predicted, with windy conditions posing a risk of power outages in the region.

The iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to proceed, despite the forecast of soaking rain in the Big Apple with temperatures in the 40s. However, the predicted winds, expected to be less than 10 mph, will allow the balloons to fly, as they are grounded only if sustained winds reach 23 mph or greater or gusts exceed 34 mph.