Weather Threatens To Cause Travel Delays Across The Country As 82 Million Americans Are Projected To Travel For Thanksgiving
A record wave of Thanksgiving travelers is about to collide with a messy setup of storms stretching across the country, with forecasters warning that rain, snow, and strong winds could slow down the busiest travel week of the year. Reports say AAA is projecting 82 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1.
In the Northeast, scattered rain and snow showers will linger across New England through Sunday afternoon. Most places will see nothing more than a light dusting, but parts of upstate New York could pick up one to two inches.
Out West, another storm is swinging into the Pacific Northwest, bringing rain and mountain snow to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Snow is expected to push into Montana overnight, where winter alerts remain in effect through Monday.
Most locations are forecast to receive two to six inches, though some isolated areas could see up to nine. Wind gusts may hit 50 miles per hour. That same system will spread into the Dakotas and Minnesota on Tuesday. Across the Northern Plains, snowfall totals are expected to range from three to eight inches, with higher amounts in parts of north-central Minnesota.
A third system is targeting the Four Corners region, dropping heavy rain and mountain snow across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.
Farther south, rain is stretching from Kansas into West Texas, where there is a slight risk of severe storms capable of producing large hail and a brief tornado. On Sunday night, heavy rain will shift into Oklahoma and North Texas, placing around seven million people under flood watches through Monday. On Monday, the Texarkana region will face another slight risk of severe weather, with the possibility of large hail, damaging wind, and a tornado.
The National Weather Service urged travelers to monitor forecasts closely and be prepared for delays as the Thanksgiving travel rush ramps up.
