Two Storms Expected to Make Thanksgiving Travels Rough
Traveling for the holiday? Read this first.
Nov. 22, 2011 — -- You may be looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner, but if you're one of the millions of people traveling for the holiday, the trip itself may give you indigestion.
Two forecasted storms are expected to make air travel rough across parts of the country, causing delays and cancellations at airports.
The first storm, which has already caused flash flooding across Arkansas, is forecast to move into the Southeast, bringing severe weather this evening into tomorrow. It will also bring rain showers and snow showers to the Northeast, with two inches of rain expected in Boston and New York and more than a foot of snow through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
The worst of the severe weather is forecast to develop tonight across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, even into North and South Carolinas. Anyone starting their holiday travel today or this evening should be prepared.
Click here for tips on traveling with children.
The second storm is moving into the Northwest this evening and continuing through Thanksgiving day, bringing with it up to five inches of rain and a foot of snow to higher elevations. Flooding and strong winds are expected to be a major concern.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, five of country's busiest airports are already reporting delays of 15-45 minutes due to weather conditions. If you're planning on flying this weekend, check the FAA's website for updated reports on flight delays.
Most of the 42.5 million people that the American Automobile Association predicts will travel at least 50 miles from home for the holiday weekend -- which starts Wednesday -- will travel by car.Travel this Thanksgiving is up 4 percent over last year's 40.9 million travelers.
Approximately 8 percent of the travelers plan to fly, and 90 percent will drive.
Click here for tips on how to survive holiday travel.
If you're driving, be prepared to spend more on gasoline this year. According to recent surveys, the average price of a gallon of regular gas so far this November is $3.42, up nearly 20 percent from $2.86 last November.
Travelers looking to save on fuel can use the GPS-based AAA TripTik Mobile App to compare prices for all grades of gasoline at nearby stations.
Troy Green, a AAA spokesperson, gives advice to holiday travelers to those who are driving:
- Plan ahead. Check for travel delays, construction zones along your route. Complete all necessary vehicle maintenance prior to trip. That includes oil changes, checking tires for proper tread depth, checking windshield wiper blades so that they're operating properly.
- A motorist's vehicle should have a travel emergency kit.
- On long road trips, take breaks every two hours or 100 miles (more often if traveling with children or pets).