Winter snow storms forecast for Thanksgiving: Updates, latest news as weather threatens to disrupt holiday travel
The National Weather Service has issued a series of winter weather advisories across the country as an estimated 80 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Some areas will experience the coldest temperatures since February after a relatively warm fall season so far.
As of Wednesday, multiple states and territories have been issued warnings about incoming storms that could potentially affect road and air travel. A storm will start to form this afternoon over the Plains and Mississippi Valley and move toward the central U.S. near the Appalachians tonight. Rain and snow are also expected across Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York tonight and tomorrow.
At the same time, workers at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport have gone on strike as the North Carolina airport braces for record levels of holiday travel this week.
- David Knowles
FAA issues ground delay at Newark Liberty International Airport due to staffing shortages
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground delay at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Tuesday due in part to a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers.
On its website, the FAA said the average delay for departures from Newark was running 95 minutes. The delays were expected to last until 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Delays have been common over the last week at the airport due to staffing shortages.
- David Knowles
Tips for dealing with holiday travel stress
Between packed highways, crowded airports and possible weather delays, traveling during the holidays can be a stressful experience, and that's not counting the polarizing Thanksgiving dinner conversations and the strategizing on how to avoid your least favorite dishes.
The Associated Press has some handy tips for alleviating that stress, including:
Stay hydrated
Give yourself plenty of extra time at the airport
Clean your house before you leave on your trip
For more holiday survival trips, check out the Associated Press.
- Katie Mather
What is a lake effect snowstorm?
Lake effect snow is expected to affect the Midwest and parts of the Northeast after Thanksgiving this weekend, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. But what exactly does that mean?
The National Weather Service describes a type of storm that occurs when cold air — usually from Canada — moves across the Great Lakes. As that cold air passes over the relatively warm lake waters, it creates clouds, which then produce 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour.
Lake effect snow storms are common across the Great Lakes area during fall and winter, so residents are likely familiar with experiencing heavy snowfall in one area while the sun is shining a mile or two away.
- Katie Mather
'Threat for heavy snow' across the Great Lakes increases
The National Weather Service continues to emphasize that the first arctic outbreak of this season will hit much of the Plains and the northern Midwest this week, with the "threat for heavy snow" continuing to increase for the area around the Great Lakes as well.
"Formidable lake-effect snow bands and snow showers will develop east and southeast of the Great Lakes, resulting in significant accumulation and drifting snow in the hardest hit areas," a Tuesday afternoon announcement reads.
The NWS also warned residents of those regions of the incoming arctic blast and snowfalls, describing them as an "abrupt change" from the otherwise record-setting warm autumn season they've experienced so far.
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More than 2,000 flights delayed today
More than 2,000 flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been delayed today, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking and data platform, with most of the delays being due to weather-related causes. Less than 100 flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been canceled today too.
FlightAware highlighted those airports that are dealing with the most delays:
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (42 delays)
Denver International Airport (27 delays, 3 cancellations)
Boston Logan International Airport (27 delays)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (23 delays)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (22 delays)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (21 delays)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (20 delays)
San Francisco International Airport (20 delays)
Los Angeles International Airport (16 delays, 3 cancellations)
Salt Lake City International Airport (14 delays)
- Katie Mather
What is an Arctic blast?
Cold air coming directly from the Arctic is expected to hit the heartland of the U.S. this week — making it the first significant Arctic outbreak of the season. The National Weather Service anticipates the Arctic blast will arrive in the northern Rockies and northern Plains on Thanksgiving Day and then move farther south and east this weekend.
On Monday, the National Weather Service described the "Arctic blast" as "dangerous wind chills, lake effect snow and severe thunderstorms."
- Katie Mather
National Weather Service offers travel advice for anyone driving to Thanksgiving
About 80 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles by car for Thanksgiving this week, the America Automobile Association reported.
The National Weather Service has come out with road safety tips for travelers in the states that will be impacted by snowy and slick roads leading up to the holiday — especially for areas that "could be very difficult to impossible," like the Sierra Nevada.
Share your travel plans with friends or family.
Get the weather forecast.
Winterize your vehicle, using tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Check road conditions — state-by-state road condition sites here.
- Dylan Stableford
Best and worst times to travel, according to the TSA and AAA
A record-breaking number of people are expected to travel in the United States on Thanksgiving week.
The Transportation Security Administration projects it will screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during a six-day stretch on Thanksgiving week, with the busiest travel day being the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: 2.8 million
Wednesday, Nov. 27: 2.9 million
Sunday, Dec. 1: 3 million
And AAA has a handy chart for the best and worst times to travel by car this week.
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Airport TSA expected to screen over 18 million travelers this week
Airport security agents are expected to screen over 18 million people traveling for Thanksgiving during this week, with today, Wednesday and Sunday anticipated to be the busiest travel days, according to the Associated Press. The plan is for the Transportation Security Administration to have enough screeners to keep the general security lines under 30 minutes.
“This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske told AP. “Fortunately, our staffing is also at the highest levels that they have ever been. We are ready.”
- Katie Mather
Heavy snow and below-average temperatures expected in Central U.S. today and tomorrow
In a Tuesday morning update, the National Weather Service said that heavy snow is expected over parts of the Sierra Nevada, the Great Lakes and the central Rockies, while the Plains will experience below-average temperatures today and Wednesday.
The Central U.S. is also expected to experience low temperatures throughout today and tonight that could cause an arctic outbreak across the region throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
- Kate Murphy
San Francisco, Newark international airports experiencing inbound delays
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in California and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey are the top two airports listed on FlightAware's "misery map," due to delays for incoming flights to those destinations.
Some arriving flights into San Francisco are being delayed an average of 46 minutes due to "weather/wind," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Meanwhile, air traffic control staffing issues are causing delays for flights destined for Newark, causing an average delay of 95 minutes.
- Kate Murphy
Photos show travelers at U.S. airports ahead of Thanksgiving
The Transportation Security Administration expects this Thanksgiving to be the busiest ever in terms of air travel.
Photos show travelers bustling across U.S. airports — including Boston and Indianapolis — while others wait for their flight in Arlington, Va.
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National Weather Service warns Thanksgiving Day temperatures will be 'the coldest since mid-late February'
The first outbreak of Arctic temperatures will hit some states starting on Thanksgiving, with wind chills dropping to negative degrees in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, the National Weather Service announced.
"Temperatures are likely to be the coldest since mid-late February in northern Plains and Midwest," the report said, "providing an abrupt change from the record, or near-record, warm autumn so far."
With the cold weather, travel disruptions are likely to happen in northeastern areas — specifically on I-90 between Cleveland and Buffalo, N.Y., and on I-81 north of Syracuse, N.Y.
- Kate Murphy
Where you might see airport delays in the coming days, according to the Weather Channel
There are currently no major storms forecast for the near future, but rain, wind and snow could snarl travel plans for Americans headed to the airport for the Thanksgiving holiday. Here's where travelers could see delays at major travel hubs, according to the Weather Channel:
Tuesday
New York City: light rain, low clouds and wind
Los Angeles: light rain
Wednesday
Denver: light snow
Chicago: low clouds and drizzle
New York City: low clouds and rain later in the day
Thursday, Thanksgiving Day
New York City: low clouds, rain and wind early in the day
Friday
None expected at this time
- David Knowles
Staffing shortages could result in air travel slowdowns, FAA warns
Federal officials are warning that staffing shortages among air traffic controllers could result in travel delays during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“During the Thanksgiving travel period, we will use traffic flow management initiatives to deal with any staffing shortages on that particular day in this airspace, and we expect to have some of those shortages. So, we’re working diligently to make sure that that can operate as efficiently as possible,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said during a press conference last week at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Delays could be especially prevalent in the New York area, where the FAA has struggled to keep up with air traffic controller staffing demands, the Independent reported. More than 30 million Americans are expected to fly over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Last weekend, more than 400 flights were delayed in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey due largely to a lack of air traffic controllers.
“Staffing shortages at Air Traffic Control meant long delays for several days this week,” Clint Henderson, managing editor of the travel publication the Points Guy, said last week, according to the Bergen Record. “The Northeast airspace is super crowded and the ATC employees can be overwhelmed with the number of flights, especially when they don’t have enough workers.”
Most of those delays lasted roughly an hour, the FAA said.
- Kate Murphy
Latest Thanksgiving week forecast from the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service released the following update on early Monday afternoon:
Heavy snow is forecast over parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, upper Great Lakes and central Rockies. There is a slight risk of excessive rainfall and flash flooding through Tuesday for lower elevations of the southern Sierra Nevada. For higher elevations, heavy snow is forecast, with about 3 feet of snow expected to accumulate by Wednesday morning. Higher elevations could see as much as 6 feet of snow.
Parts of the Great Basin can expect snow showers, with 1 to 2 feet of snow expected in the Intermountain West and Colorado Rockies over the next few days.
Meanwhile, the Upper Midwest and lower Great Lakes region will see snow showers, with the upper peninsula of Michigan seeing several inches.
The Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes can expect below average temperatures, while south central and southeast Texas will experience record-high temperatures.
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Americans traveling by car should see break in gas prices
About 80 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving this week, most of them by car, according to the American Automobile Association.
Those travelers should get some relief at the pump since the average nationwide gas price — which has fallen 11.2 cents in the last month to $3.01 per gallon — is the lowest it's been since May 2021. National prices are also 23.7 cents lower compared to this time last year.
- Kate Murphy
Will it rain on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade?
New York City-area forecasters are advising those planning to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade to bring their rain gear. Rain is expected during Thursday's parade, but wind gusts are expected to be below 10 mph, according to New York’s NBC affiliate.
The massive parade balloons cannot fly if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or if wind gusts are above 34 mph.
- Katie Mather
Traveling for Thanksgiving? What to do if your flight gets canceled or if the airline loses your luggage.
A record-breaking number of people are expected to fly this holiday season, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) projecting it will screen 18.3 million people during Thanksgiving week alone.
If you're one of the millions of people traveling during this busy time, here's a quick guide to what you should keep in mind — from when to expect a refund for a canceled flight to how to deal with potentially lost luggage.
When are you entitled to a flight refund?
According to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new “Automatic Refund” rule, you're entitled to a refund if:
Your flight is canceled and the airline does not rebook you or you do not accept rebooking.
Your flight is significantly changed and you do not accept the changed itinerary or any alternative compensation.
How do you get a refund for a canceled flight?
The new DOT policy changed the way passengers get refunds. Previously, passengers were responsible for navigating airline policies to determine whether they were entitled to a refund and then explicitly request one. Under the new rules, airlines must automatically provide refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them.
What if the airline loses your luggage?
Airlines are required by law to compensate passengers if their bags are damaged, delayed or lost.
If your baggage is significantly delayed (that is, not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 30 hours for international flights) you are entitled to a refund for a checked bag fee, according to the DOT.
Read more from Yahoo News: Canceled flights? Lost luggage? These are your rights as an air traveler this holiday season.
- Katie Mather
Charlotte airport workers go on strike ahead of Thanksgiving travel
Hundreds of employees at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina have gone on strike to protest what they claim are unlivable wages. The strike comes right before the airport's busiest travel season, with an estimated 1 million passengers departing this week.
Officials with the Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement Monday and said workers were demanding "an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season." Union officials said the employees were earning between $12.50 and $19 an hour, WSMV4 reported.
Workers have argued that their salaries no longer cover their basic necessities, despite their hard work to keep planes clean and on schedule.