Stormy Weather Snarls Thanksgiving Getaways
Millions of Americans embarking on their Thanksgiving holidays have faced a turbulent start to the week, as severe weather systems caused significant travel disruption across the United States. By Monday morning, more than 2,058 flights had been delayed or cancelled nationwide, creating a logistical nightmare during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that this holiday travel period is on track to be the busiest in nearly 15 years, with over 360,000 flights scheduled for the week. A staggering 82 million people are expected to be on the move, with the peak travel days anticipated to be Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, and the following Monday.
Regional Impact and Transport Alternatives
The travel chaos was not evenly distributed, with the southern United States bearing the initial brunt of the disruptions. Thunderstorms sweeping across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas led to the majority of the initial delays and cancellations. Airports in Dallas were particularly hard-hit.
According to flight tracking data, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport recorded 46 cancellations and 250 delays, while Dallas Love Field Airport saw 35 cancellations and 38 delays. The severe weather also left its mark on infrastructure, with tracker PowerOutage.US reporting over 35,374 customers without power, the majority in Texas.
With air travel proving unreliable, many were reconsidering their options. AAA projected that approximately 73 million people—nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travellers—would journey by road. The non-profit cautioned that this number could climb even higher if frustrated air travellers opt to drive instead.
Widespread Weather Woes Across the Nation
The disruptive weather was not confined to the South. A multi-faceted storm system was creating hazardous conditions from the Rockies to the East Coast.
Midwest and Great Lakes: Forecasters in Minnesota warned of a system poised to dump up to nine inches of snow from Tuesday through Wednesday, with officials at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport urging travellers to arrive early. Meanwhile, Lower Michigan was bracing for lake-effect snow on Thanksgiving itself, with predictions of up to a foot of snow and winds gusting to 45 miles per hour. The National Weather Service issued a stark warning, stating “travel could be very difficult to impossible.”
The East: A cold front was forecast to bring periods of rain and gusty winds to the Northeast, threatening delays at major airport hubs in cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
The West: Winter weather advisories were in effect for Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, with more snow expected. Farther west, an atmospheric river was anticipated to drench the Pacific Northwest, potentially causing flooding in Washington state and Oregon and slowing travel on the critical Interstate 5 corridor.
As millions strive to reach their destinations for the holiday, the message from forecasters and transport officials is clear: check the latest updates and prepare for significant delays, as this record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period is being defined by its challenging weather.
