Holiday Traffic Delays Expected as a Result of Nationwide Storm Systems

The main contributor to this weather event is upper-level atmospheric energy from an active jet stream pushing wet weather from the far Northwestern part of Canada toward the south and then up the Midwest and eastward.

Cold weather from the Great Lakes area and a low-pressure system moving up the Eastern Seaboard along the Atlantic Ocean then add to the problem.

Weather Systems Converge in the Northeast

The weekend's cold front across the Northeast reminded residents of the Great Lakes and New England that the official winter season can begin as early as mid-November. The start of the Thanksgiving holiday week also shows that wintry weather can actually occur just about anywhere in the country.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, experts expect a low-pressure system and multiple thunderstorms on the Gulf Coast to spread from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Tennessee and Ohio valleys and across the Appalachians and Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic and New England, culminating in the most severe conditions by Wednesday, especially near Boston (MA).

In the Gulf, residents should prepare for tornadoes and related hail and winds. Almost half of the country on the eastern side might experience rain at the same time on Tuesday, with some areas like Atlanta (GA) possibly experiencing 30 mph wind gusts and an inch of rain that day.

A combination of this weather and cold air might cause snow and ice in parts of certain Midwest states, like Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, and in New York and New England.

Some experts believe that parts of New Hampshire and Maine might receive up to 1 foot of snow. By Wednesday, the Midwest can also expect cold, dry air with extreme crosswinds.

What Is the Potential Impact on Travel Plans?

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA / Triple A), people can expect rain and possibly snow to interfere with their travel plans by causing fog, high winds and slippery surfaces.

As estimated by AAA, approximately 50 million automobile drivers and passengers might experience low visibility, hydroplaning and other problems from Illinois to New York, especially on or near the I-80, I-81 and I-95 interstates. They might experience extremely congested and slow traffic conditions while drivers try to prevent weather-related incidents that can cause accidents.

From Monday night through all day Tuesday, one of the early waves of the approximately 4.7 million people expected to travel via airplane this week can expect a downpour of unceasing rain in major cities in the same regions, including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago (IL), Detroit (MI), and Cincinnati and Cleveland (OH).

Local and non-local travelers in Pittsburgh (PA) might also experience non-stop rain. From Tuesday mid-afternoon through Wednesday, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and nearby geographic areas can expect a lot of fog and an adverse impact on road and air traffic.

Although crosswinds throughout the Northeast are possible by Wednesday, travelers and motorists can give thanks on Thanksgiving and Black Friday after clear, dry conditions replace the wet weather.

How to Prepare for Holiday Travel

A high risk exists for delays and accidents during bad winteresque weather. Given the upcoming expected weather conditions, disruptions and longer travel times caused by a sudden increase of people on the roads and at public transportation centers, everyone should take the time needed to fully prepare for potential emergencies.

For example, travel experts expect more start-stop motor traffic and longer braking distances in rainy and snowy conditions. As a result, every driver should invest in a vehicle inspection, including their brakes, lights, tires and windshield wipers, before they leave home.

They should invest in outfitting their vehicle with the appropriate gear to handle cold, wet conditions, emergency breakdowns and other scenarios, such as a medical kit, blankets, at least two days' worth of beverages and non-perishable foods, flares or glow sticks and a handheld battery-operated or crank-style radio. Additionally, they should pack a little extra to help other stranded motorists on the roads.

Airplane, bus and train travelers should always prepare for possible delays and cancellations by keeping essentials in a carry-on bag so they don't need to worry about checked or missing luggage.

They should also keep an eye on the availability of other transportation options or rooms at local hotels while waiting for their journey to begin at the respective travel center so that they can immediately book whatever alternative they need before everyone else attempts to do the same.

Every traveler, no matter their type of transportation, should set up a weather app with real-time updates on their phone, tablet or other personal device.

They consider bookmarking websites on their mobile browser that provide detailed information about the status of their mode of transportation, such as a website for an airplane, bus or passenger rail company, a vacation or other travel firm that helped with arranging the trip, or even a hospitality or ride company.