(WKBN) – Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the United States and the weather could cause delays.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) projects the three busiest travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Which airports are the most likely to experience delays over the coming week?
Tuesday travel
A storm system will begin to impact the western United States Monday and into Tuesday. This could cause some travel issues for those flying out of or into the large airports of Denver and San Francisco. The precipitation will stay as rain in San Francisco but heavy rain/snow in the mountain areas close by could make getting to the airport tricky.
Further to the east, the mountains of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming will experience a major snowstorm on Tuesday. There are several mountain areas that will be measuring the snow in feet when the storm ends. Denver will likely experience some snow from this storm system but accumulations will stay light as the heavier snow stays confined to the mountainous areas.
Other than some rain showers to the east, Tuesday’s travel looks good for the majority of the central and eastern U.S.
Wednesday travel
The conversation shifts to the east on Wednesday as the same storm system will impact the central United States. The two Chicago airports could have some delays early Wednesday morning due to a wintry mix, so that is something to keep in mind.
This rain/snow mix will extend through much of the Midwest, which could also cause delays while driving.
This storm system will push further east throughout the day, bringing a wintry mix to other parts of the Midwest and even into the Valley. Although significant snow accumulations are not expected, any precipitation during high-traffic days can cause issues, so just be patient and allow for extra time to reach your destination.
Sunday travel
Determining travel issues on Sunday will be more difficult since the forecast is still about a week out.
However, expect cold temperatures to dominate the eastern half of the United States. The cold air mass will take advantage of very warm water over the Great Lakes, which will likely lead to significant snow events in the snowbelt areas. Right now, it does not appear that any major airports will be impacted weather-wise.
However, the ever-busy I-90 corridor could be treacherous on Sunday from Cleveland to Buffalo, so that is definitely something to consider if you’re traveling to those locations over the holiday.
The Storm Team 27 meteorology team will continue to work hard to determine the holiday forecast for you over the coming days. You can check any changes by looking at the Youngstown 7-day outlook.
