Rain, snow, and severe storms could disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans in the United States

 

Rain, snow, and severe storms could disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans in the United States.

Storms and inclement weather during the Thanksgiving holiday will likely disrupt travel plans in much of the United States.

The forecast comes as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects this "holiday travel season to be our busiest on record."

"[This week] TSA is expected to screen 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday, " she said in a press release. These are busy travel days: " 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday... and 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, which will likely be more. "

Starting Monday, a storm with rain, snow, and possible thunderstorms will sweep across the South, starting in the southern Plains and spreading across Louisiana, Arkansas, and the Mississippi Valley. The central United States will see heavy rains as a result.

Tornadoes are also likely, especially in Louisiana and Mississippi.

In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, wind and rain could lead to disruptions at airports in major cities such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

On Wednesday, the New England region — Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut — could see snow on the roads.

Things look better later in the week. Thanksgiving Day is expected to be cool and dry across the central and eastern United States.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, when many are making trips home, East Coast residents should brace for another storm. However, those living on the West Coast should see favorable weather.

Historically, the busiest travel days of the year in the United States are typically the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

But the Transportation Security Administration assured travelers that they were prepared.

"We are prepared for the expected volumes and are working closely with our airline and airport partners to ensure we are prepared for the busy holiday travel season," said TSA Administrator David Pekosky.