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ATLANTA — Millions are gearing up to fly and drive for Thanksgiving — but no matter the plan, the weather always gets a seat at the table.
“The most important thing is to be aware of it,” said Aixa Diaz of the American Automobile Association, or AAA. “I think people get caught off guard sometimes when it comes to the weather because they’re busy paying attention to whatever’s going to be happening in their hometown.”
Diaz says next week a record 82 million Americans will be traveling — the majority, 85% to 90%, by car. About 7%, or 6 million, will fly.
“Ever since 2023, we’ve been setting new records that have surpassed pre-pandemic numbers,” Diaz said. “Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday of them all.”
The holiday crush could be made worse by two storm systems expected to track across the central, southern and eastern U.S. The Pacific Northwest will likely stay wet all week with rain and mountain snow to Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
The first storm will take shape Monday, bringing rain and storms to the southern Plains before sweeping into the Southeast. Airports that could be affected Monday and Tuesday include Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis and Atlanta.
Parts of the Midwest and Northeast could also be wet on Tuesday, including Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.
The timing could not be worse — Tuesday afternoon is expected to be one of the most jam-packed travel periods before Thanksgiving.
“Tuesday, Wednesday are always the busiest leading into the holiday,” Diaz said.
Colder air from Canada settles in on Wednesday, and snow is expected in the High Plains and Colorado. Travelers in cities like Denver, which has yet to receive its first snow of the season, should pay attention to the forecast. A chance for more rain on Wednesday could affect travel from the Ohio Valley into the Northeast as well.
Colder and windy conditions are expected in the Midwest on Thanksgiving Day, with possible lake-effect snow along the Great Lakes. For now, conditions look dry for New York City, where the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place.
The bottom line, patience and a plan b can go a long way when it comes to travel next week. Diaz stresses safety above all else.
“Don’t just think of your trip as the most important thing and and overlook the fact that if you if you don’t get there safely, none of this matters anyway,” Diaz said.
Click here to check the local forecast from your trusted team of meteorologists. Click here for local traffic information.
