Cross-country storm set to disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans
A major cross-country storm next week threatens to cause travel delays for millions across the United States during the busy Thanksgiving holiday.Southern California is set to be the first hit, with heavy rainfall throughout Friday. Up to 1 inch of rain per hour is possible, with 1 to 2 inches of total rainfall in urban areas causing localized flash flooding. Rock- and mudslides are also possible.The storm will shift away from California on Saturday and move into the desert, where heavy rainfall is forecast to sweep across southern Arizona. It is then expected to move into the Southern Plains, where it poses the risk of excessive rainfall in areas that were just hit by a separate system over the past two days.By Monday, the rainstorm is expected to stretch from South Texas to the Upper Midwest, bringing pockets of heavy rain and potential flooding that could delay flights.The East Coast is forecast to be affected on Tuesday, with light rain and residual travel delays from the storm.This storm system comes ahead of the nation’s busiest travel period.“We are projecting that the Sunday after Thanksgiving will be one of the busiest travel days in TSA history,” said Adam Stahl, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy TSA Administrator. People with Thanksgiving travel plans should check the weather forecast before traveling and plan accordingly, the National Weather Service said on Friday. TSA recommends that flyers have valid ID, pack smart and enroll in TSA PreCheck.At least 82 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).“We expect this to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in 15 years," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a press release on Friday afternoon, encouraging travelers to "be patient, arrive early and check your flight status with your airline."Tuesday will see the most air travel next week with 52,185 forecasted flights, according to the FAA.“Thanks to the dedication of our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee, we are ready for the holiday rush and take pride in helping travelers reach their friends and families during this important time of year,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in Friday's news release.“I am deeply grateful to our entire FAA team," Bedford added. "Even through a period of record-high traffic, their unwavering commitment keeps the system running safely."
