As Christmas approaches, many people are traveling by car or plane to reunite with their loved ones. While many wish for a white Christmas, it may bring inconvenience to travel. Additionally, severe weather such as storms and freezing rain in some areas could lead to travel delays.
According to data from the American Automobile Association, it is expected that over 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles away from home during the period from Saturday (December 21) to the New Year. This will become the busiest end-of-year holiday travel season on record, surpassing the record set in the 2019 holiday season. This year, weekends around Christmas may witness the most congested roads and airports.
The trade group “Airlines for America” predicts that from December 18 to January 6, the passenger volume for US airlines will reach 54 million. This number represents a 6% increase from last year’s holiday airline travel figures.
Forecasts suggest that in the upcoming week, intense storms could make travel more chaotic. Heavy rain is expected on the West Coast, while cold and rain in the Midwest and Eastern states could disrupt traffic but also provide for a white Christmas for millions of people.
A low-pressure system spanning the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region is expected to bring freezing rain to some areas on Sunday (December 22) and Monday (December 23), with winter weather advisories already in effect for that region.
Meteorologist David Roth from the National Weather Service states that snowfall will move eastward from North Dakota through Michigan into the Northeast, with an increase in coverage and intensity.
Roth mentions that parts of New York and Pennsylvania have issued cold weather warnings, while southeastern Georgia and northern Florida have issued freeze and frost advisories.
According to AccuWeather, the “Alberta Clipper” system sweeping across the Great Lakes on Monday and Tuesday and moving into the Northeast will not only bring snow but also strong winds. Wind speeds could reach up to 40 miles per hour, alongside a sudden drop in temperatures.
Northern Wisconsin to northern Pennsylvania and parts of Maine are expected to see 1 to 3 inches of snow, while snowfall in the northern part of Michigan to the Adirondacks Mountains, Green Mountains, White Mountains, and into New England could reach 3 to 6 inches.
Parts of the Mississippi River Valley are forecasted to experience heavy rainfall on Tuesday.
As of Sunday morning (December 22), it is expected that severe weather will impact many interstate highways in the Northeast and Northwest, including I-95, I-90, I-84, I-80, and I-5. Some areas have already been affected in terms of transportation services. Sunday morning saw overhead wire issues along the Amtrak and New Jersey Transit railways due to severe weather, leading to the suspension of train services in Philadelphia as well as parts of New Jersey and New York.
According to data from the flight tracking website FlightAware, on Sunday (December 22), there were 1,683 flights entering or leaving the US delayed. By later Sunday morning, 55 flights entering or leaving the US were canceled. The data also shows that flight delays doubled, and cancellations almost doubled since 5 am Eastern Time on Sunday. Major US airports affected include Chicago O’Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Boston Logan International Airport. Boston Logan and JFK airports reported around 80 departing flight delays, while O’Hare airport reported over 40 flight delays.
(This article references reports from CBS and USA Today)