As travelers prepare for one of the busiest holidays, a significant Arctic outbreak is poised to affect various regions of the US, coinciding with heightened travel activity around Thanksgiving. The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of potential "dangerously cold wind chills" in the northern Plains by Thursday. Meanwhile, heavy snowfall is anticipated for areas in New England, with thunderstorms expected along the East Coast. Despite these harsh conditions, record numbers of travelers are projected, leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations.
Arctic Conditions Disrupt Thanksgiving Travel Across the US
Arctic Conditions Disrupt Thanksgiving Travel Across the US
A powerful Arctic air mass is forecasted to impact Thanksgiving travel as severe weather conditions take hold across the United States.
Air traffic disruptions have already been reported, with FlightAware logging over 4,500 delays and more than 60 cancellations on Wednesday alone. The TSA has predicted passenger volumes during this Thanksgiving holiday to hit record numbers, with nearly nine million people expected to pass through airport security over the holiday weekend. Particularly busy days will likely be the Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to Thanksgiving, as well as the Sunday afterward. Driving is also expected to rise, with nearly 80 million Americans anticipated to travel at least 50 miles this week, aided by lower gasoline prices compared to last year.
On the West Coast, dense fog warnings are in effect across the Pacific Northwest and parts of California, alongside reports of freezing fog in Oregon and Washington. This follows a recent winter storm that brought heavy snow to higher elevations. As communities in the Pacific Northwest continue to recover from a bomb cyclone that caused flooding and widespread power outages, the complex interplay of weather patterns and an influx of travelers marks this Thanksgiving as particularly challenging.
On the West Coast, dense fog warnings are in effect across the Pacific Northwest and parts of California, alongside reports of freezing fog in Oregon and Washington. This follows a recent winter storm that brought heavy snow to higher elevations. As communities in the Pacific Northwest continue to recover from a bomb cyclone that caused flooding and widespread power outages, the complex interplay of weather patterns and an influx of travelers marks this Thanksgiving as particularly challenging.
