As a Thanksgiving Day storm hits the East Coast, travelers already at their holiday destinations are grateful while those still en route face travel woes. A mid-latitude cyclone has caused heavy snow in the interior Northeast, with winter storm warnings in effect for New York through New England. In Maine, over 32,000 customers were without power due to the storm.
Thanksgiving Eve saw smooth travel until a storm in the Rockies led to flight delays in Denver and Salt Lake City. Newark Liberty International Airport, a critical hub for United Airlines, experienced delays due to air traffic controller shortages. Similarly, JFK, LAX, and Seattle airports saw delays. Despite this, a record 71.1 million people are expected to travel by car for Thanksgiving.
Lake effect snow alerts are in effect for areas downwind of Lake Ontario and Erie, including Cleveland and Buffalo. Siberian air will bring frigid temperatures across the country, with some areas experiencing temperatures well below average. Snowfall is also expected in parts of the Midwest.
As travelers head back home on Sunday, TSA expects 3 million people to pass through security checkpoints. Sunday afternoon and Monday morning are anticipated to be the worst times for travel. Despite the challenges, travelers like Angel Ruiz remain excited to visit family, despite lengthy travel times.
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