Thanksgiving travel could break records this year but extreme weather could snarl pre-holiday traffic
According to the AAA, nearly 80 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which runs from Nov. 26 through Dec. 2.
Winter storm to slow Thanksgiving travel
The Points Guy Managing Editor Clint Henderson joins FOX Weather to talk about Thanksgiving travel when a winter storm is forecast to slow some travel. Henderson said travelers can avoid some crowds by not traveling on the day right before or after the holiday.
WASHINGTON – It’s that time of year when millions of Americans across the U.S. prepare their travel plans ahead of Thanksgiving, and experts predict a record number of people will hit the roads and pack airports this year.
Traveling can be stressful, and you’ll no doubt hear the phrase "pack your patience" a few times before you sit down with family and friends to celebrate the holiday.
Your fellow travelers are not the only ones who may add to the anxiety of getting from Point A to Point B safely – extreme weather can have a major impact on your timely arrival at your destination.
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According to the AAA, nearly 80 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which runs from Nov. 26 through Dec. 2.
"Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising," said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in a news release. "Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that."
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A record 71.7 million people are expected to get to their Thanksgiving destinations by car, which is an increase of 1.3 million people compared to 2023. That number is also higher than pre-pandemic numbers when 70.6 million drove in 2019.
Air travel is also expected to break records in 2024, with AAA estimating 5.84 million people catching flights at airports across the country.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it, too, was preparing for what could be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record and offered tips for passengers to help make traveling through airports as easy and stress-free as possible.
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Whether you're filling up your gas tank and driving or getting to the airport early to ensure there's enough time to get through security, no amount of preparation can keep Mother Nature in check to avoid the dreaded travel delays or, even worse, cancellations.
A potent winter storm is bringing snow, beneficial rain and strong winds to parts of the Northeast, which will no doubt slow travel both on the roads and in the air through at least the start of the weekend.
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This graphic shows the forecast rain totals in the Northeast.
(FOX Weather)
Out West, a strong and impactful atmospheric river is expected to bring extreme amounts of rain and snow to northern California and southern Oregon throughout the weekend. Up to 20 inches of rain could fall in some areas, leading to fears of life-threatening flash flooding, mudslides, and debris flows.
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This comes after a powerful bomb cyclone slammed parts of the West earlier this week. That storm was responsible for at least two deaths, and hundreds of thousands of people were left without power.
This image shows a large tree that fell onto power lines during a bomb cyclone on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
(@SouthSnoFire/X / FOX Weather)