Topline
Severe thunderstorms, wind and snow are expected to batter many in the U.S. this week, the National Weather Service said, disrupting some of the busiest travel days of the year as millions of Americans hit the roads and the airports ahead of Thanksgiving.
Many major cities in the eastern half of the U.S. will see heavy rain and wind on Tuesday and … [+]
Key Facts
A storm system will move from the central U.S. toward the East Coast and bring heavy rain and thunderstorms that extend from the lower Mississippi Valley to the mid-Atlantic, the National Weather Service Prediction Center said Monday.
Tornados and severe weather are a possibility in parts of the Southern U.S., with areas in west Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas under a tornado watch as of Monday at 4 p.m. EST, the National Weather Service said, but by Tuesday the worst of the storms will have moved on.
As the storm moves east on Tuesday, it’s expected to bring substantial rain and wind to major East Coast cities like New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Charlotte and Atlanta —which could impact the travel plans of millions of Americans ahead of the Thursday holiday.
By Wednesday, the storm will move away from much of the East Coast but could leave some lingering showers.
Rain and snow are expected in the northern parts of the East Coast, including Boston, which could see snow totals around four inches on Wednesday, according to NBC News.
Meanwhile, the higher-elevation areas of New Hampshire and Maine could see heavy snow on Wednesday, the NWS Prediction Center said.
What To Watch For
By Thanksgiving day, most of the country will be free of the effects of the storm and will experience dry conditions, according to the NWS Prediction Center.
Key Background
Bad weather predictions put millions of Americans’ travel plans at risk ahead of the busiest travel period of the year. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen some 30 million passengers from Nov. 17 to Nov. 28. Some 49.1 million people are projected to drive over the Thanksgiving travel period, between the Wednesday before the holiday and the Sunday after, AAA said. Amtrak is expecting 750,000 passengers from Nov. 19 through Nov. 26, a company spokesperson told the New York Times.
Further Reaing
Thanksgiving Travel Forecast: Midweek Storms Could Mean Headaches For Holiday Plans (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/11/20/pre-thanksgiving-storms-severe-rain-and-snow-could-cause-holiday-travel-headaches/