Traveling for Thanksgiving? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Storms, Delays, and Airport Safety!

 As Thanksgiving travel reaches its peak, a massive storm is complicating plans for millions. 

Waiting For Flight

Thanksgiving Travel Faces Storms, Delays, and 

SecurityConcerns: What You Need to Know

As Thanksgiving travel hits its peak, millions of Americans are braving weather disruptions and security risks to reunite with loved ones. Here’s the rundown of what travelers are facing this holiday season:

Storms Bringing Snow, Rain, and Delays

A powerful storm is sweeping from the Rockies to the Northeast, complicating travel plans.

• Air Travel: Nearly 4,000 flight delays and 45 cancellations were reported Wednesday, with Denver leading delays (600+ flights). East Coast hubs like Newark faced ground delays due to air traffic controller shortages, while Boston, Dallas, and Las Vegas saw triple-digit delays.

• Road Travel: Snow in the Rockies impacted I-25 and I-70, while rain created slick conditions on I-80, I-64, and I-75. By Thanksgiving Day, a cold rain will drench the I-95 corridor, while New England faces up to 6 inches of snow in some areas, potentially causing power outages.

• Macy’s Parade Forecast: NYC's iconic parade will proceed despite soaking rains and temperatures in the 40s. Winds under 10 mph will allow the beloved balloons to fly.

Thanksgiving Weather Outlook

• East Coast: A wet Thanksgiving from Virginia to Maine.

• Interior Northeast: Heavy snow from northeast Pennsylvania to New Hampshire, with localized totals above 6 inches.

• Bitter Cold: The northern Plains and Midwest brace for temperatures 10-20°F below average, with single-digit lows in Minneapolis by the weekend.

 Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

This Thanksgiving sees unprecedented travel numbers:

• Airports: TSA expects to screen 3 million passengers on Wednesday and Sunday, nearing July 4th weekend records.
• Roads: Over 71.7 million people are driving, up over 1 million from last year.

Security Concerns at Airport Parking Lots

Security Concerns at Airport Parking Lots

Travelers are being warned about car thefts at airports:

• Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reported over 300 car thefts this year, nearly triple last year’s numbers.
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was targeted by a multi-state theft ring, with over 50 vehicles stolen.
• Authorities are enhancing security with new cameras, fencing, and patrols.

What’s Next?

• Friday: Travel normalizes as the storm moves out of New England, though lake-effect snow around the Great Lakes will persist.
• Sunday: The busiest travel day of the week will see mostly favorable conditions on the coasts, but cold temperatures and snow may linger in the Midwest and Northeast.

For travelers, patience and preparation are key this Thanksgiving as they navigate packed airports, icy roads, and new security measures. Safe travels, and happy Thanksgiving!