Millions face wintry weather in what could be a record-breaking holiday travel season: NPR

Millions face wintry weather in what could be a record-breaking holiday travel season: NPR

A traveler enters Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, December 20, 2024.

A traveler enters Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, December 20, 2024.

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George Walker IV/AP

Millions of people have traveled on holiday, braving cold temperatures, snow showers and wet roads as wintry weather snarls traffic across the country.

More than 119 million people are expected to travel through Christmas and Hanukkah, both of which fall on the same day this year, through the New Year, a figure that would break a travel record set in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic. according to AAA.

Here’s what you need to know about vacation travel.

Rain and snow make traveling chaos for some

According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow showers have hit the Pacific Northwest since Saturday, while cold air from the Arctic has caused temperatures to plummet in the Northeast and areas around the Great Lakes.

Travelers at several airports had to expect delays before the holidays. Heavy fog caused hundreds of delays at San Diego International Airport on Friday. according to KPBS. Flights to and from Boston Logan International Airport also experienced delays due to ice and snow.

Heavy snow is expected on Sunday in the Northern Cascades of the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains, while flooding could occur along coastal parts of Northern California.

Rain will continue across the Pacific Northwest on Monday, according to the NWS. Western parts of the Great Lakes could also see more snow.

Travel will be chaotic in many parts of the country on Christmas Eve as thunderstorms are forecast across the Southern Plains. Rain is also expected to slow travel on the West Coast and the Ohio Valley. Snow is also likely in the Northeast, where some places could see 1 to 3 inches of snow, potentially leading to a white Christmas.

This graphic of the U.S. shows areas most likely to see snow on Christmas Day.

This graphic of the U.S. shows areas most likely to see snow on Christmas Day.

NWS/weather.gov


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NWS/weather.gov

Parts of the West Coast — including Washington, Oregon and Northern California — the Midwest, areas around the Great Lakes and northern New England could also wake up to a white Christmas, according to the NWS.

Be prepared for delays

When traveling on vacation, expect long lines at the airport and long travel times.

Arrive at the airport early and allow extra time to check your luggage and go through airport security, said David Pekoske, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

“We recently hired over 600 new officers to support the increase, but it will still take some time to get through the airport,” Pekoske said wrote in a social media post on Friday.

More than 43,000 flights are scheduled to take off on Sunday and around 43,500 will also fly on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. At least 10,000 flights in and out of the United States were delayed on Friday and more than 9,500 on Saturday. according to FlightAware. As of Sunday afternoon, around 3,500 flights in and out of the United States were delayed.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are expected to see the fewest air travelers, with just over 30,000 flights departing each day, the FAA said. And if you’re driving, AAA says Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve might be better days due to minimal traffic disruptions.

If you’re traveling by rail, Amtrak is for you warning travelers In the northeast, there were “longer delays” due to individual tracks and overhead lines, which led to failures at some stations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also conducted a public service campaign on Friday urged Travelers can prepare by creating alerts in the FEMA app and following TSA for updates. Drivers were also advised to ensure they have emergency kit for their car.

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