Thanksgiving weather: Travel warnings as winter storm hits central plains
While winter weather may be impacting some states, the East Coast is now enjoying milder weather – and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has gone ahead as planned in New York City
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Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of Americans are being urged to travel safely as extreme weather and winter storms continue to impact parts of the US over Thanksgiving holiday.
The National Weather Service said in a post on X on Thursday a significant winter storm will bring heavy snow and hazardous travel to parts of the Northern and Central Rockies as well as into the Central Plains through the holiday weekend.
Snow is forecast to spread over Wyoming on Thursday and travel south through Colorado on Friday, the agency said.
While winter weather may be impacting some states, the East Coast is now enjoying milder weather – and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has gone ahead as planned in New York City.
This comes after Governor Kathy Hochul of New York warned travelers in the state to be cautious earlier in the week as there was a risk of “extreme winter weather” during peak travel days.
Wednesday had been forecast to be the busiest road travel day for US holiday travelers, with more than 49 million Americans believed to be driving to their destinations during the Thanksgiving stretch that day.
Some parts of New England may get up to three inches of snow
While most of the snow that will fall late Tuesday night on New England will melt before accumulation is possible, there are some higher-elevation areas where forecasters expect it to stick.
Massachusetts broadcaster WBZ-TV’s weather team predicts up to three inches of snow could accumulate — for a few hours — in the northern, higher elevation portions of the state.
Most of that snow will be compacted and will melt as temperatures increase on Wednesday.
New York Mayor Eric Adams issues travel advisory
New York Mayor Eric Adams issued a travel advisory for the city’s residents on Tuesday, warning them of heavy rains and strong winds heading into the Thanksgiving holiday stretch.
“@nycemergencymgt has issued a travel advisory for today, November 21, through tomorrow, November 22. Be prepared for heavy rains and strong winds. Bundle up, add extra time for travel, and follow @NotifyNYC for more updates as we have them,” the mayor wrote.
Thanksgiving will be chilly, but mostly dry, according to forecasters
After a wet and windy Tuesday and Wednesday, Thanksgiving day is expected to be relatively dry, but chilly across much of the US.
“High temperatures in the Central and Southern Plains will average 10 to 20 degrees below the norm. Meanwhile in the Northwest, temperatures will be mild for the most part as high pressure builds across the region,” the NOAA reports.
Flight cancellations and delays soar
According to FlightAware data on Wednesday evening, more than 3,000 flights were delayed and 60 flights were cancelled.
The flight disruptions come as the TSA predicted 2.7m passengers would fly on Wednesday, while AAA estimated that 55.4m Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Wednesday and Sunday.
New York State DOT offers tips for holiday drivers
The New York State Department of Transportation offered up a list of tips for holiday travelers taking to the roads to reach their destinations this Thanksgiving.
Northern New York and northern New England are were forecasted to see freezing rain and sleet Tuesday evening with the potential for some snow overnight, though accumulation is unlikely in all but the most elevated of the affected regions.
Wednesday is expected to be the busiest day for road travelers. AAA recommends that drivers leave either early or late in the day to avoid the worst of the holiday traffic.
DOT head Pete Buttigieg tells air travelers they are entitled to full refunds if their flights are cancelled
Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg posted a video on Tuesday informing air travelers of their rights — and what compensation they can expect — in the event of flight cancellations or delays this holiday season.
“This year, we have seen some of the busiest air travel days in US history. And so far this year, our aviation system has been handling the increased volume well. In fact, cancellations are lower than they were before the pandemic, and we’re pushing hard to keep it that way.”
“If your flight does get delayed or cancelled, know that the Department of Transportation has your back. For example, we have obtained enforceable commitments from the ten largest airlines to cover expenses for things like rebooking, meals, and more when you face delays or cancellations that are the airline’s responsibility. You should also know you are entitled to a full cash refund if your flight is cancelled for any reason.”
Mr Buttigieg said the DOT’s regulations have helped return more than $2.5bn dollars to travelers whose flights have been cancelled. He recommended air travelers to visit FlightRights.gov to review their rights as travelers before they set off for their holiday destinations.
Today is the busiest travel day before Thanksgiving
Nearly 2.7m passengers will be flying on Wednesday ahead of the holiday, according to the Associated Press. However, that number will increase after Thanksgiving, as a predicted 2.9m will be traveling on Sunday.
The rise in travel comes alongside storms that are expected to plague parts of the country.
A winter weather advisory is in effect in parts of Maine and Vermont in the east, while in the west, the same can be expected for parts of Montana, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
Why is this the busiest travel week in decades?
Lower gas prices and more affordable flights could be contributing to a spike in travellers this year, according to the New York Times.
Today’s national average gas price is $3.281, according to AAA gas prices. That number is down from a year ago, when the national average gas price was $3.636.
The Times reported that the average price for a domestic flight around Thanksgiving was down nine percent from a year ago, according to Hopper data last month.
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