Rain, snow and severe storms could disrupt US Thanksgiving travel plans | US News

Storms and severe weather this Thanksgiving holiday week are likely to disrupt travel plans across much of the United States.

The forecast comes as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it expects “this holiday travel season to be its busiest ever.”

“(This week) TSA expects to screen 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday…2.7 million passengers on Wednesday…and 2.9 million passengers on Sunday…which will likely be the highest travel day busier,” she said in a press release.

Beginning Monday, a storm with rain, snow and possible thunderstorms will sweep across the South, beginning in the Southern Plains and spreading to Louisiana, Arkansas and the Mississippi Valley. As a result, the central United States will experience heavy downpours.

Tornadoes are also possible, especially in Louisiana and Mississippi.

In the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, wind and rain could cause disruptions at airports in major cities like New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia.

On Wednesday, the New England region – Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut – could see snow on the roads.

Things improve later in the week. Thanksgiving Day is expected to be cool and dry across the central and eastern United States.

As for the weekend after Thanksgiving, a time when many return home, those on the East Coast should prepare for another storm. Those on the west coast should, however, benefit from favorable weather.

Historically, the busiest travel days of the year in the United States are typically the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

But the TSA assured travelers they were prepared.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said, “We are prepared to handle anticipated volumes and are working closely with our airline and airport partners to ensure we are ready for this busy holiday travel season. »