As millions celebrate Thanksgiving, a powerful storm is disrupting travel plans across the Northeast, dumping rain and snow along the East Coast and causing significant delays for those still en route to their destinations.
A “dynamic mid-latitude cyclone” is spreading scattered showers and thunderstorms, the National Weather Service reported. Moderate to heavy snow is expected across parts of the interior Northeast, while winter storm watches and warnings have been issued in central New England due to the heavy snow threat.
Thanksgiving Eve Travel Challenges
Thanksgiving Eve morning began relatively smoothly for air and road travelers. However, a storm in the Rockies brought heavy snow, leading to flight deicing procedures in Denver and Salt Lake City. Denver International Airport reported over 700 flight delays on Wednesday, according to FlightAware data.
Newark Liberty International Airport, a major hub for United Airlines, experienced 95-minute delays Wednesday due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Although delays had eased by Thursday morning, Newark still reported over 400 delays on Wednesday and 20 by 9 a.m. Thursday.
FAA Safety & Technical Training Deputy Vice President Chris Wilbanks told NBC News it could take “five to seven years” to fully staff and train enough air traffic controllers to meet demand.
Widespread Flight Delays
Major airports, including Boston Logan, Newark, Atlanta, and New York’s JFK, are all experiencing flight delays, according to FlightAware’s Misery Map.
Meanwhile, 71.1 million Americans are expected to travel by car for Thanksgiving, according to AAA, creating packed highways and congested roads. Angel Ruiz, traveling from Tulare, California, to Los Angeles International Airport en route to Guatemala, described his frustrating journey.
“I’ve been on the road for maybe six hours already, and my flight to Guatemala City is shorter than this drive,” Ruiz said. “It’s not a good time to travel, but I’m excited to see my family.”
Weather Impacts Beyond the East Coast
In the Midwest, lake-effect snow showers are affecting the Upper Great Lakes region, with snowfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches expected along Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Additionally, frigid air from Siberia is sweeping southward, bringing the coldest temperatures of the season to much of the country. Daytime highs from Omaha to New York and as far south as Atlanta are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees below average, ranging from the 30s to low 40s. Overnight lows will dip below freezing, even reaching the Gulf Coast.
From Saturday to Monday, cities like Chicago will see overnight temperatures in the teens, while New York, St. Louis, Charleston, Nashville, and Raleigh will experience lows in the 20s. Atlanta’s overnight temperatures will hover in the low 30s.
Looking Ahead
Sunday is expected to be the busiest travel day, with approximately 3 million people anticipated to pass through TSA checkpoints as they return home. For road travelers, the worst times to drive will be Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to NBC’s Tom Costello.
Despite the challenges, many travelers remain grateful to spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, braving the storm and its disruptions to reach their destinations.
