As millions of passengers started their trips to reach loved ones for what forecasters anticipate will be a frigid Thanksgiving, dozens of flights were canceled and others more delayed.
Two weather systems are predicted to spread a “Arctic outbreak” throughout the Central United States until Thanksgiving, according to the National Weather Service.
In its national forecast discussion on Tuesday, the meteorological service stated that “a significant arctic outbreak will arrive in the northern Plains on Thanksgiving and advance farther south and east on Friday into the weekend.”
During the lead-up to the holiday, ground travel may also be challenging due to congested highways. Although there haven’t been any reports of significant disruptions thus far, air travelers in particular may see significant issues.
Due to a lack of air traffic controllers, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground delay at Newark Liberty International till early Wednesday. The visibility-related ground delay at Boston Logan International Airport ended Tuesday evening. Additionally, the administration and meteorological service warned that fog and persistent rain could reduce visibility at the crowded San Francisco Airport, making ground stops conceivable.
Due to the strong demand for air travel, the FAA on Tuesday banned unscheduled private aircraft from flying at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
Freezing holiday weather
Tuesday and Wednesday will see temperatures in the northern Great Plains only get to the upper teens and 20s, which is 15 to 25 degrees below the seasonal average. Lows on Thursday might range from 0 to 13 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Twin Cities weather service office.
Rain and up to three feet of snow were predicted in the southern Sierra Nevada due to an atmospheric river event, which is a flow of moisture in the air that can cause heavy precipitation in the Great Basin, the Rockies, and central and southern California.
With four to eight inches of snow predicted, Thanksgiving will be chilly in places downwind of Lake Ontario and on the Upper Michigan Peninsula.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rain is predicted for Thursday, so those planning to attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City might wish to bring umbrellas.
Nor will Black Friday consumers be exempt. From the Plains to the Great Lakes region, temperatures are predicted to drop by 15 to 25 degrees below normal.
“Wind chills will make it feel below zero in the northern Plains and Midwest, and lake effect snow is likely from the upper peninsula of Michigan to western New York,” according to the NOAA.
Weather could affect travel plans
The “cornucopia of hazards,” which includes snow, rain, and strong winds, could affect travel for people in the Northeast, West, and Great Plains this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned.
According to NBC News Al Roker on the TODAY show, storms are expected to sweep east across the Rockies on Wednesday, bringing rain and snow. Denver, Kansas City, and St. Louis airports are likely to see delays. According to him, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Minneapolis, and Atlanta can also see air delays.
Wednesday could have an impact on interstates 55, 64, 65, 75, and 80. Additionally, the storm will intensify when it approaches the East Coast on Thanksgiving Day, bringing with it a lot of rain and snow, making it challenging to drive along I-95 and a number of other important highways in the area.
“Our travel weather is going to be a real mess, you’re just going to have to pack your patience, take your time, you’re going to get to where you’re going it just might not be when you expect to get there,” Roker stated.
FlightAware flight-tracking data shows that as of Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET, 78 flights into, within, and leaving the U.S. had been canceled and over 4,100 had been delayed.
Additionally, travel hubs appeared to handle a surge in passengers on Monday. The Rev. Jeff Couture, a Catholic priest who had recently returned on a pilgrimage to Portugal, told NBC New York on Monday, “I grew up in Connecticut, so I’ve been through this airport thousands of times, and I’ve never seen it this easy getting through customs. No line today.”
Due to the unavailability of direct flights from Newark, Janis and Ken Allen took the train from Philadelphia to San Francisco on Monday to visit their daughter. They had not encountered any difficulties. As instructed by consumer travel organizations like the AAA, they scheduled their return trip for December 3 in order to avoid the post-holiday rush, they told NBC New York.
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