Millions of people can expect to have their holiday travel affected by severe storms this Thanksgiving week, and some could even see their flights grounded or delayed due to rain and snowstorms projected to hit both coasts.
Several states have issued travel advisories for the more than 55 million people who are expected to travel for the holidays. The worst day for travel due to weather conditions is Tuesday, with heavy wind and rain expected along the East Coast.
"A pre-Thanksgiving storm may bring travel impacts from the central to the eastern U.S. early next week," National Weather Service forecasters said on Sunday. "Areas of severe thunderstorms, gusty winds, heavy rain, and heavy snow are all possible."
Tornadoes are possible in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on Tuesday, and snow is expected in New England on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, according to ABC News. This could cause delays in major transportation hubs, such as New York City, Washington, and Boston.
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota could also see snowfall on Wednesday, and parts of the Northwest, such as Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington state, are expected to see rain.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a travel advisory for the city on Tuesday, ahead of its projected snowstorm on Tuesday evening. The advisory is expected to remain in effect until Wednesday.
"[New York City Emergency Management] has issued a travel advisory for today, November 21, through tomorrow, November 22," Adams told New Yorkers on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "Be prepared for heavy rains and strong winds. Bundle up, add extra time for travel, and follow @NotifyNYC for more updates as we have them."
On Thanksgiving, the NWS predicts the major storm will largely move off the East Coast, with only lingering snow showers and gusty winds in the Northeast. But Denver and other Rocky Mountain areas could see snow on Thursday and Friday.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A storm could also hinder post-Thanksgiving travel on the East Coast, including in the southeast, according to the NWS, but projections as far out as the weekend are more uncertain.
The 2023 Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be the busiest on record, with the Transportation Security Administration expecting 30 million people to travel by air from Nov. 17-28.