Arctic Chill Hits US as Millions Travel for Thanksgiving

As millions of Americans embark on their Thanksgiving journeys, an intense arctic outbreak is forecasted, bringing hazardous conditions to many regions.

The eastern United States braces for severe weather as travelers flock to airports and highways for Thanksgiving celebrations. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of a notable "arctic outbreak" impacting the northern Plains, coinciding with one of the busiest travel periods in the country. Heavy snow and rainfall are anticipated over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, creating poor travel conditions ahead of the holiday.

In certain areas, snowfall could exceed 10 inches (25 cm) as the weather system intensifies and moves eastward into the Midwest and Great Lakes region. Forecasters predict temperatures may plunge to dangerous lows, ranging between -30F to -40F (-34C to -40C), particularly across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, according to BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor.

As the storm progresses, places ranging from the interior of New England to the Appalachians are at risk of significant snowfall, while parts of the Great Lakes region could see snow showers totaling 4-8 inches along the northern coastline of Michigan.

Amidst these impending conditions, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates record-breaking travel volume this Thanksgiving. Nearly nine million travelers are expected to pass through airports on the busiest days—Tuesday, Wednesday, and the Sunday following the holiday. Additionally, almost 72 million Americans could travel over 50 miles (80 km), due in part to decreased fuel prices compared to last year.

So far, airport operations have remained mostly unaffected, but the forecast suggests potential disruptions in the days ahead as severe weather intensifies. Major highways such as the I-90 between Cleveland and Buffalo and I-81 north of Syracuse might face significant delays due to accumulating snow.

This year's weather impacts come in the wake of a storm that recently struck California's west coast, resulting in torrential rain and heavy snowfall in higher elevations along with wind gusts reaching 50 mph (81 km/h). Central California also dealt with an "atmospheric river" earlier in the week, further compounding the adverse weather. Meanwhile, communities in the Pacific Northwest are still recovering from a recent bomb cyclone that led to widespread flooding and power outages, with additional rain predicted for the week.