A severe cold snap is hitting the US, causing travel disruptions and heavy snowfall across various regions. Millions of people are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, with record numbers of car travelers and airport screenings. Weather events in California and the Pacific Northwest have caused mass flooding and power outages.
Record Travel Numbers
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that passenger volumes during this year’s Thanksgiving have already reached record highs. The busiest days were expected to be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as the Sunday after the holiday. The TSA expects to screen nearly nine million people at airports during those three days.
Record Travel Numbers by Car
A record number of nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles (80km) by car over the week, according to insurance company AAA. This increase is due to lower petrol prices compared to last year’s Thanksgiving holiday.
Weather Events in California and Pacific Northwest
Central California was hit by another “atmospheric river” event on Tuesday after experiencing a similar phenomenon last week. The weather event occurs when water evaporates into the air and is carried along by the wind. In the Pacific north-west, communities are still recovering from last week’s bomb cyclone, an intense weather event that caused mass flooding and power outages for hundreds of thousands of people.
Storm to Advance into Midwest
The storm is expected to advance into the Midwest area on Friday and through the weekend, bringing with it “lake-effect” snow and severe thunderstorms. Lake-effect snow occurs when cold air passes over unfrozen waters, causing the air to rise and form clouds that grow into a narrow band producing 2-3in of snow per hour or more.
Places Affected by Heavy Snow
Places that could see a large dump of snow include the interior of New England and the Appalachians. In the Midwest and Great Lakes region, there is a possibility of 4-8in of snow over the northern coastline of Michigan, according to the NWS.
Weather Forecast
The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast a significant arctic outbreak across a swathe of the country, affecting parts of the eastern US during the Thanksgiving holiday. This weather system is expected to bring heavy snow and rain over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, with more than 10in (25cm) of snow possible in some areas.
Temperature Drop
Temperatures are expected to drop to bitter lows across many areas, with temperatures as low as -30F to -40F (-34C to -40C) possible in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor stated that the arctic blast could send temperatures plummeting.
Travel Disruptions
The severe conditions come at a hectic time for travel, with millions of people expected to hit the roads and airports for Thanksgiving. Flight disruptions began on Wednesday, with over 3,800 flights delayed and 861 cancelled in the US. Delays were possible at airports across the country, including Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, and Seattle.
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