Millions of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving could face weather-related travel chaos, with an AccuWeather report warning of stormy weather that could disrupt flights across the country.
Thanksgiving travelers could endure delays as early as Saturday morning, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski told Newsweek, as a storm system begins to impact the central and southeastern part of the U.S., namely Nashville, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
Why It Matters
Thanksgiving is historically one of the busiest travel periods in the United States, with the American Automobile Association (AAA) expecting a record of nearly 82 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more in 2025. With so many travelers relying on both airlines and major highways, forecasts of multiple storms threatening key airport hubs across the country raise the prospect of widespread travel disruptions, delays, and cancellations during a holiday period synonymous with reunions and busy airport terminals.
What to Know
A broad and dynamic storm system originating in the Southwest is forecast to impact the central, southern, and eastern United States through Thanksgiving week, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. Forecasters anticipate heavy rain, severe thunderstorms, and periods of snow that are likely to disrupt both roadways and air traffic in several major regions at the height of holiday travel demand. The busiest travel days, traditionally the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, fall in the forecast window for significant weather events.
Early in the week, heavy rain and mountain snow are predicted for California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, with snow likely in higher elevations and possibly affecting the I-70 transportation corridor. As the storm tracks east, major airport cities—including Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock—could experience flight disruptions from gusty thunderstorms as soon as late Sunday and Monday.
By Tuesday, the weather system is expected to spread intense rain and possibly severe thunderstorms from Texas through the Midwest, causing a risk of delays for flights through major hubs like Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. In the north-central U.S., wintry precipitation may slow traffic at Minneapolis–St. Paul International.
On Wednesday—the traditional peak for pre-Thanksgiving travel—rain, low visibility, and gusty winds may extend from the Great Lakes through the Ohio Valley to the East Coast.
“There is the potential for travel delays related to rain, slick conditions and poor visibility from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast states from Wednesday to Wednesday night, but that depends on the track, strength and forward speed of the large storm system,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said in the report. “The storm will be losing some of its intensity and moisture as it travels from the Central states to the Northeast, but given the travel volume, even a few hours of rain can create significant problems on the roads and runways from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.”
Thunderstorms could bring further delays to Southeastern airports such as Charlotte Douglas International and Atlanta.
Thanksgiving Day itself may see improvement in some areas, but the risk of showers or snow lingers from the Ohio Valley through the Northeast. Paradegoers in New York City may experience early dry conditions, though a faster-moving storm front could introduce rain or wind by afternoon.
While most of California and the broader Southwest is forecast to remain dry from late Monday into the holiday, coastal regions of the Northwest and Northern California could encounter persistent low clouds and spotty rain. Periodic offshore winds in Southern California, including Santa Ana events, could present additional challenges unrelated to precipitation, such as reduced ground visibility and sporadic power outages.
What People Are Saying
Pastelok said in the report: “Storms, snow, gusty winds, and fog would cause flight delays and cancellations during some of the busiest travel days of the year. Delays and disruptions can quickly ripple across the country during busy holiday travel periods, especially if weather disrupts operations at major hubs like Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta or New York.”
Vice President of AAA Travel Stacey Barber in a press release: “Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones. People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”
What Happens Next
The pattern of storms across the United States is expected to continue to evolve as Thanksgiving week unfolds, with new updates possible as the systems shift and intensify. Airline operations at key hubs remain especially vulnerable, as even brief weather disruptions can cause cascading delays nationwide due to tightly packed holiday schedules and high passenger volumes. Travelers are advised to allow extra time, monitor airline notifications closely, and consider contingency plans in case of rescheduling or cancellations.
