Thanksgiving Day travel at risk from storms, rain and snowfall

More than 20 million people face the threat of storms, tornadoes and hail in a holiday travel season expected to be the "busiest ever."

Tormentas en el Día de Acción de Gracias (Twitter / @NWS)

Published by

Verónica Silveri Pazos

20 de noviembre, 2023

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A storm that caused rain and snow in the western U.S. this weekend is moving east and threatens to affect travel for Thanksgiving with strong winds, hail and tornadoes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center warned about the situation:

The core concentration of severe threat -- including the potential for several tornadoes, some strong (EF2+) -- should be from parts of east TX across central LA to central/southern MS this afternoon into late evening.

More than 20 million people face the threat of Level 3 thunderstorms in parts of East Texas, northern Louisiana and central Mississippi. The alert level is lowered in New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. However, Monday and Tuesday will be rainy days. Some areas are also preparing for the possibility strong tornadoes:

Tornadoes (some strong), damaging thunderstorm winds and isolated large hail are expected from this afternoon across east Texas and parts of Louisiana, into tonight across the Delta region into portions of Mississippi and Alabama.

Rain will also reach Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Rain is expected from the Carolinas to New York on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, it will arrive in Boston. Snow is expected in northern New England through Tuesday and Wednesday, and 6-12 inches of snow is forecast for parts of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Bad weather can alter Thanksgiving trips. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and airlines are preparing for what they expect to be the "busiest ever" holiday travel season, with more than 30 million people forecast to travel by plane. TSA Administrator David Pekoske stated in a statement:

We expect this holiday season to be our busiest ever. In 2023, we have already seen seven of the top 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history. We are ready for the anticipated volumes and are working closely with our airline and airport partners to make sure we are prepared for this busy holiday travel season.