(NEW YORK) — A storm is sweeping across the U.S. threatening Americans’ Thanksgiving plans as they hit the roads and head to airports during one of the busiest holiday travel weeks of the year.
After dumping rain and snow on the West Coast over the weekend, the cross-country storm is now unleashing heavy rain on the East Coast, targeting major travel hubs like Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Nov 22, 8:42 AM EST
Your Sunday travel forecast
This Sunday — one of the busiest travel days of the year — weather may impact those who are hitting the road and heading to the airport after Thanksgiving.
Snow is forecast to hit Illinois, Indiana and northern Ohio on Sunday. One to three inches is possible in Chicago.
The snow will reach northern Pennsylvania and upstate New York by Sunday night.
On Monday morning, the snow will be confined to upper New England, where 3 to 12 inches is possible.
Nov 22, 8:23 AM EST
Latest forecast
One to three inches of rain is soaking roadways along the East Coast from this cross-country holiday week storm.
The heavy rain is ongoing Wednesday morning from Norfolk, Virginia, to Charleston, South Carolina.
In New England, rain is still falling in Boston and snow is ongoing in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The last bits of precipitation will leave New England by midnight.
On Thursday, it’ll be a cold Thanksgiving morning across the U.S.
Wind chills — what temperature it feels like — are forecast to plunge to 36 degrees in New York City, 35 degrees in Atlanta, 27 degrees in Chicago and 24 degrees in Denver.
In the Northwest, rain is coming down throughout much of Washington this morning. It will spread through Idaho and Montana with scattered rain and snow showers today.
Meanwhile, a new storm is forming in the West, bringing snow to most of Wyoming Thanksgiving morning. By Thanksgiving afternoon, it will be snowing in Nevada and Utah.
Snow will arrive Thursday night in Colorado, including in Denver, where intermittent snow showers will continue Friday morning.
Nov 21, 4:53 PM EST
Air travel smooth so far
Despite the rough weather, air travel is smooth so far ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Only 49 flights have been canceled across the U.S. on Tuesday.
Airports in the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas may see some delays Tuesday evening as the storm lingers along the East Coast.
Nov 21, 3:18 PM EST
Air travel smooth so far
Despite the rough weather, air travel is smooth so far ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Only 29 flights have been canceled across the U.S. on Tuesday.
Airports in the Washington, D.C., and New York City areas may see some delays Tuesday evening as the storm lingers along the East Coast.
Nov 21, 3:13 PM EST
Latest forecast
Heavy rain and gusty winds are hitting Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., on Tuesday afternoon, impacting those hitting the road for Thanksgiving.
By 7 p.m. Tuesday, the storms will be ending for Atlanta. But in Charlotte, the rain and wind will last through 11 p.m. In D.C., the heaviest rain will hit from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday.
In New York City, the heaviest rain will hit overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
The rain will keep moving north, reaching Boston by Wednesday morning.
The East Coast will dry out by 5 p.m. Wednesday, with only lingering rain and snow in Maine.
Nov 21, 10:54 AM EST
New York City issues travel advisory
A travel advisory is in effect for New York City, where the rain is expected to begin Tuesday afternoon.
Mayor Eric Adams said travelers should be prepared for heavy rain and strong winds, and he urged people to give themselves extra time on the roads.
Nov 21, 9:00 AM EST
TSA administrator’s advice for Thanksgiving travelers
TSA Administrator David Pekoske expects a record number of travelers this Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Pekoske told ABC News’ Good Morning America on Tuesday he’s confident the Transportation Security Administration has enough agents for the holiday rush.
He said his best advice for Thanksgiving travelers is to “give yourself a little extra time.”
“Airports are gonna be busy, aircraft are gonna be full. Give yourself a little extra time. It’ll take the stress off and it’ll allow you to prepare for anything,” he said.
Pekoske also encourages passengers to thank the airport staffers who are working over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Nov 21, 8:46 AM EST
Latest forecast
Both Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina can expect to see rain for much of the day Tuesday along with strong wind gusts at times, making delays at airports almost a certainty.
The rain is expected to reach Washington, D.C., around 10 a.m. Tuesday and New York City around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The heaviest rain for the Interstate 95 travel corridor — one of the busiest nationwide — is forecast to begin after 8 p.m. Tuesday and continue until about 6 a.m. Wednesday. Flash flooding is possible along I-95, so those driving to reach their Thanksgiving destinations should exercise extreme caution.
A few tornadoes are possible across south Alabama and the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday.
Snow is expected to start in northern New England on Tuesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday night. Six to 12 inches of snowfall is in the forecast for parts of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
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