As millions prepare to travel for Thanksgiving, a significant Arctic blast combined with heavy snowfall and thunderstorms is predicted to disrupt plans.
**Thanksgiving Weather Chaos: US Faces Arctic Chill and Travel Disruptions**
**Thanksgiving Weather Chaos: US Faces Arctic Chill and Travel Disruptions**
Severe winter weather is set to impact Thanksgiving travelers across the United States.
The United States is bracing for a major Arctic blast coinciding with the Thanksgiving weekend, impacting one of the year’s busiest travel periods. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for "dangerously cold wind chills" in the northern Plains beginning Thursday. Meanwhile, the northeastern states, particularly New England, are preparing for significant snowfall, while thunderstorms could affect the Eastern seaboard, particularly in regions like Georgia, North and South Carolina.
Travel disruptions have already begun, with thousands of flights delayed and cancellations reported as holiday travelers attempt to navigate the stormy conditions. FlightAware noted over 4,500 flights had been impacted just on Wednesday alone with 61 cancellations. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported record passenger volumes during this Thanksgiving season, with nearly 9 million people expected to fly during the three busiest travel days leading up to the holiday and the Sunday following.
The anticipated number of travelers is also driven by falling fuel prices, with nearly 80 million Americans expected to undertake road trips of more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, in the western states, dense fog warnings have been issued for California and the Pacific Northwest, with freezing fog anticipated in Oregon and parts of Washington.
In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, Central California has also dealt with extreme weather events, including atmospheric river occurrences, which brought heavy snow and winds to higher elevations. Residents in the Pacific Northwest are continuing to cope and recover from recent storms that caused excessive flooding and power outages.
This Thanksgiving holiday looks to be filled with both travel excitement and weather-related challenges, highlighting the unpredictability of winter storms across the nation.
Travel disruptions have already begun, with thousands of flights delayed and cancellations reported as holiday travelers attempt to navigate the stormy conditions. FlightAware noted over 4,500 flights had been impacted just on Wednesday alone with 61 cancellations. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported record passenger volumes during this Thanksgiving season, with nearly 9 million people expected to fly during the three busiest travel days leading up to the holiday and the Sunday following.
The anticipated number of travelers is also driven by falling fuel prices, with nearly 80 million Americans expected to undertake road trips of more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, in the western states, dense fog warnings have been issued for California and the Pacific Northwest, with freezing fog anticipated in Oregon and parts of Washington.
In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, Central California has also dealt with extreme weather events, including atmospheric river occurrences, which brought heavy snow and winds to higher elevations. Residents in the Pacific Northwest are continuing to cope and recover from recent storms that caused excessive flooding and power outages.
This Thanksgiving holiday looks to be filled with both travel excitement and weather-related challenges, highlighting the unpredictability of winter storms across the nation.
