Weather This Week: Thanksgiving 2021 Travel To Be Disrupted By 'Potentially Significant' Storm

Some travelers may find their flights for this year’s holidays disrupted by a “potentially significant” storm, according to weather forecasts.

Officials for the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on Tuesday morning warned about a significant storm that could potentially disrupt holiday travel plans from the Midwest to the Northeast.

The storm, which could hit areas with major airline hubs such as Chicago and New York, is expected to reach the Northwest by early Friday and track across parts of the East early next week.

"The upper trough and a possible embedded low may support potentially significant low pressure that would affect portions of the East, and requires monitoring given the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel week," the WPC said in its extended forecast discussion.

The storm system, which would likely develop in the Midwest on Sunday, is expected to get near the East Coast on Tuesday. On the same day, weather forecasters are expecting a secondary system to develop along the coast, bringing significant rain and strong wings in nearby places.

"Even though we are still almost a week out and forecasts can change, this looks like a planes, trains and automobiles storm," Chad Myers, a meteorologist for CNN, said.

Having said that, computer forecast models aren’t always accurate. It is also unclear whether a big storm will form, but experts are anticipating tumbling temperatures and sweeping winds.

The forecast will likely affect the plans of more than 53.4 million Americans expect to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday this year. The figures are up by 13% from 2020 and will likely boost air travel by 80% from last year, according to AAA Travel.

“Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said.

Of the total number of expected holiday travelers, 48.3 million are expected to travel via automobile, 4.2 million are expected to go via air travel and 1 million are expected to take other methods of transportation, including by bus, train or cruise.