Thanksgiving Travel Alert: Three Storms Could Disrupt Record Holiday Rush

As a record number of Americans prepare to travel for Thanksgiving, three separate storm systems are poised to bring snow, heavy rain and pockets of severe weather across large parts of the country. Travelers should monitor forecasts closely, allow extra time, and expect delays at airports and on major roadways.

Key numbers

82 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles between Tuesday and Dec. 1, according to AAA. The Federal Aviation Administration projects about 52,185 scheduled flights on the busiest travel day this week.

Airport conditions

Even with staffing restored after the recent government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration agent Reiko Walker—who works at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston—says travelers should still expect long lines and delays during Thanksgiving week, which she calls "our Super Bowl."

Allow extra time at the airport, check your airline for schedule updates, and be prepared for longer TSA wait times despite restored staffing levels.

Regional impacts

New England: Scattered rain and snow showers will continue through Sunday afternoon. Most locations will see only light accumulations, though parts of upstate New York could receive 1 to 2 inches.

Northwest: A storm moving in Sunday will bring rain and mountain snow to parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Montana, Dakotas & Upper Midwest: Snow will spread into Montana overnight with winter alerts in effect through Monday. Most areas can expect 2 to 6 inches of snow, with isolated amounts up to 9 inches and wind gusts up to 50 mph. The system will cross into the Dakotas and Minnesota Tuesday, producing periods of rain and snow, then push into Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by Wednesday. Northern Plains snowfall totals are forecast around 3 to 8 inches, with higher amounts in north-central Minnesota.

Four Corners & Southwest: A third system will bring heavy rain and mountain snow to parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona on Sunday. A social media video showed strong wind and heavy rain in the Tucson area over the weekend. Winter alerts are in effect for southwest Colorado (including Telluride) and northern New Mexico, where the San Juan Mountains could see 5 to 10 inches of snow.

Plains to Texas: A long band of rain will extend from Kansas into West Texas, where there is a slight risk of severe storms capable of producing large hail and brief tornadoes. Heavy rain will shift into Oklahoma and North Texas Sunday night; roughly 7 million people are under flood watches through Monday. The Texarkana region faces a slight risk for severe weather on Monday.

Eastern U.S.: By Tuesday the system is expected to expand from the Great Lakes down through the Gulf, sending a long line of rain slowly through the eastern third of the country Tuesday night into Wednesday. Conditions should start to clear by Wednesday evening.

How to prepare

• Check the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service and your airline before leaving.
• Build extra time into your travel schedule and consider traveling outside peak days if possible.
• Keep an emergency kit in your car: water, blankets, flashlight, phone charger and food.
• Never drive through flooded roads; turn around, don’t drown.
• Monitor local alerts for winter weather, flood watches and severe thunderstorm warnings.

Stay informed, stay flexible, and plan for added travel time this Thanksgiving week.