As Memorial Day weekend in the United States commenced, many regions across the country found themselves under threat from severe weather conditions. According to the latest forecast released by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Saturday, southern and central plains are expected to experience extreme weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail, which could disrupt air and ground transportation, affecting the holiday travel plans of millions of people.
Texas is facing high-risk weather conditions during this period. In the northern part of the state, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a cold front and multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms are expected to hit during the holiday weekend. Starting from Monday morning, the weather system is forecast to intensify, bringing heavy rain, large hail, and destructive strong winds. There is also a risk of localized flooding and flash floods in the Texas hill country and San Antonio area. The meteorological department has issued level two thunderstorm and heavy rainfall alerts for some areas.
Warnings have been escalated in Oklahoma and Arkansas. These two states are expected to be heavily impacted by thunderstorm systems over the weekend, potentially leading to mesoscale convective systems (MCS) resulting in multiple rounds of heavy rain, lightning strikes, and strong winds, posing potential risks to infrastructure and public safety.
Southwest Missouri is on alert. The Springfield area has issued flood watches. It is anticipated that there will be multiple rounds of heavy rainfall from the weekend to Monday, with the possibility of golf ball-sized hail and winds exceeding 110 kilometers per hour, posing a threat to regional safety.
Eastern Missouri and Alabama are also affected. St. Louis will experience ongoing rainfall with the possibility of hail in some areas. Birmingham, Alabama is within the range of thunderstorm warnings. The meteorological department advises residents and travelers to stay vigilant for real-time forecasts and to carefully plan their travels.
Denver International Airport in Colorado temporarily halted flights. Even the state of Colorado in the Midwest region was not spared. Denver International Airport temporarily closed its runways on Saturday due to thunderstorms, leading to a significant number of stranded passengers and widespread flight delays. The weather bureau pointed out that similar weather conditions may affect other major airports in the western United States.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) prediction, during the Memorial Day weekend in 2025, an estimated 45.1 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles or more, surpassing the record of 44 million people set in 2005, reaching a historic high.
As a significant national holiday in the United States, many people choose this time to return home or travel, making the transportation system more sensitive to weather conditions during peak periods. Meteorologists urge those planning to travel to closely monitor the latest forecasts, allocate sufficient travel time, and pre-plan alternative routes to cope with potential weather changes and traffic disruptions.