The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, and millions of Americans are gearing up to hit the road and board flights. Luckily, the weather is expected to cooperate for the most part.
Following a storm that brought unfavorable weather to the central and eastern United States, conditions are improving. However, the Northeast may experience lingering bad weather, particularly in New England, with up to 8 inches of snow forecasted for northern Maine and “blustery” conditions across the region.
The National Weather Service anticipates clearing skies by Thanksgiving morning as the low-pressure system moves off the East Coast. Travelers in the West should also be cautious of a winter storm around the Rockies, according to the weather service.
Despite these weather concerns, the American Automobile Association estimates that over 55 million people will travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, marking an increase of more than 2% from last year. A majority of these travelers will be driving.
As for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the weather is expected to be “a solid 7 out of 10,” with sunny to partly cloudy conditions and temperatures in the mid-40s. The parade balloons are not likely to be grounded due to strong winds.
Moreover, below-average temperatures are predicted for much of the country, with colder than usual conditions in the central and southern Plains. In addition, a snowstorm is expected to blanket the Rockies, particularly in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
The holiday spirit was disrupted in Philadelphia due to traffic delays from a shooting that caused the closure of Interstate-95 near the Betsy Ross Bridge for several hours, affecting commuters and holiday travelers.
Overall, while Thanksgiving travel may pose some weather-related hurdles, this does not deter the millions of Americans gearing up for the holiday season. Expectations are high, but so are the spirits of these eager travelers.
