Two-thirds of US could be hit by bad winter weather over Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving travel could be hit by a storm system forecast to affect about two-thirds of the United States, meteorologists from AccuWeather say, bringing heavy rain, wind, snow, and thunderstorms to central, eastern, and southern regions to coincide with the year’s peak holiday rush in the air, road, and rail.

A record 82 million people are anticipated to travel up to 50 miles (80 km) over the Thanksgiving period, according to AAA figures that say there will be an additional 1.3 million people on the roads compared to last year.

That window had opened just as mountain snows in California, and the southwest were predicted to move east, reaching the Plains region by the beginning of the holiday week and the Mississippi Valley and the East Coast by midweek. East Coast states have been battered by a snowy winter storm, and temperatures have dropped dangerously low in central and southeastern communities.

AccuWeather has warned: “The storm will bring downpours, severe weather, and snow to different regions as it moves east.” The site’s Lead Long-Range Meteorologist, Paul Pastelok, said the south-central states would see the “best chance of severe weather.” 

For flyers in and out of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas airports, the storms could be intense enough for schedules to be disrupted, AccuWeather said. While schedules are returning to normal after the air traffic control shortages seen during more than six weeks of federal budget loggerheads, the US system is vulnerable and remains around 3,000 staff short. This means that any weather events that strain the status quo, whether it is scheduled flight disruptions or staff not being able to get to work, could have a significant impact.

Meanwhile, heavy rains could be felt on both sides of the country: both rain and mountain snow are on the cards for the Pacific Northwest, with an “atmospheric river” forming over northwestern Oregon and western Washington; and over in Washington DC, and Boston, storms and their aftermath would be enough to make roads treacherous in the days before and after Thanksgiving.

Some commentators are predicting more people on the road due to flight cancellations made during the budget shutdown. That might make last-minute flights cheaper, but if driving, the AAA urges holidaymakers to ensure they are on the road by midday on 25 November or before 11 am on 26 November to avoid the worst congestion. Coming back after the break, the roads are likely to be busy from 11 am to 8 pm on Sunday, 30 November.