As millions prepare for Thanksgiving travel, forecasts indicate a significant arctic outbreak and severe weather impacting many regions, raising concerns over safety and travel disruptions.
Thanksgiving Travel Disrupted by Severe Arctic Weather Conditions
Thanksgiving Travel Disrupted by Severe Arctic Weather Conditions
Record-breaking travel activity in the US coincides with an impending severe weather system bringing arctic temperatures and heavy snowfall.
An unfortunate convergence of record-breaking Thanksgiving travel and severe weather is set to challenge millions across the United States. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for a major arctic outbreak, especially in the northern Plains, coinciding with what are historically known as the busiest travel days of the year.
Starting Wednesday, travelers to the Colorado Rockies will face heavy snow and rain, with forecasts predicting up to 25 centimeters (over 10 inches) of snow in certain areas. As this weather system progresses, it is expected to intensify and move eastward throughout Thanksgiving Day, leading to significant temperature drops across multiple regions.
Matt Taylor, a BBC Weather forecaster, noted that temperatures could plummet to dangerously low levels, particularly ranging from -30°F to -40°F (-34°C to -40°C) in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The storm is predicted to impact the Midwest, bringing along "lake-effect" snow and possible severe thunderstorms. Residents in New England and Appalachia will also need to remain vigilant for substantial snowfall.
Though the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) indicates that airport passenger volumes have reached record levels, with almost nine million expected to travel during the three busiest days—two days before Thanksgiving and the Sunday following—the NWS warns that weather-related disruptions could soon occur.
The I-90 highway connecting Cleveland and Buffalo, as well as I-81 north of Syracuse, are particularly at risk due to expected heavy snowfall in areas south and east of the Great Lakes.
In addition to these challenges, severe weather events have already impacted the West Coast, where Central California recently faced heavy snow and strong winds, accompanied by another atmospheric river phenomenon. The Pacific Northwest is still recovering from the consequences of a bomb cyclone, which resulted in mass flooding and outages for many residents. As more rain is predicted for the areas of Washington, Oregon, and California, the ongoing wet weather posing risks to holiday travel appears overwhelming.
