A very important period for millions of Americans, Thanksgiving celebrations are marked this year by a violent winter storm, which has hit the northeastern United States since Thursday with heavy rain and snowfall. Thousands of travelers saw their plans disrupted as weather alerts remained in effect Thursday evening in several states, from upstate New York to New England.
A “dynamic mid-latitude cyclone” brought intense thunderstorms and downpours to coastal regions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The snow, which covered inland regions like Maine and Vermont, led to dangerous driving conditions, with accumulations that could exceed 30 centimeters.
Chaos in airports and on the roads
The disruptions began Wednesday in the West, where a storm in the Rockies caused massive delays at the Denver airport. Nearly 700 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware. On the east coast, in Newark, one of the country's main hubs, delays reached 95 minutes, made worse by a shortage of air traffic controllers.
At the same time, the southeast of the country is threatened by violent storms, with the risk of tornadoes. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for this region, highlighting the possibility of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.
A weekend of extreme conditions
On the roads, the influx of travelers has also created massive traffic jams. Insurance company AAA estimates that 71.1 million Americans drove to reach loved ones this year, a record. “My six-hour drive to the airport was longer than my flight,” Angel Ruiz, who was traveling from California to Guatemala, told NBC News.
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The forecasts remain worrying. Snowfall alerts issued around Lakes Ontario and Erie, including in the Buffalo, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio areas, will remain in place until Sunday. Snowfall, reaching up to 5 cm per hour, could total several tens of centimeters. At the same time, a wave of Siberian cold is hitting the country, with temperatures up to 20 degrees below seasonal norms. From Chicago to New York, highs will not exceed 0 to 5°C this weekend, with lows well below zero.
Post-holiday returns under pressure
This Sunday, nearly 3 million passengers are expected at airports, according to the TSA, marking the busiest day of the year for air travel. On the roads, the worst times for driving will be Sunday between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Monday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., experts warn.
Authorities urged travelers to plan their trips carefully and remain vigilant in the face of still-difficult weather conditions.
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