Topline
Some areas of the U.S. are facing storms and thick fog Friday and Saturday that could affect post-Christmas travel—particularly in the Northwest, South and Midwest—as millions of Americans travel for the holidays.
Travelers gather with their luggage at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on December 26 in Los … [+] Angeles, California. Getty Images
Key Facts
Southern Storms: Storms in parts of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana brought severe weather and tornadoes to the region Thursday, which impacted flights, and though the National Weather Service predicts those storms will lift Friday, severe weather including thunderstorms and rain are expected to return Saturday. The National Weather Service’s offices in New Orleans and Lake Charles, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas, and Fort Worth, Texas, have projected storms could return Saturday, though the New Orleans office noted isolated storms are also possible Friday, particularly along the Mississippi coast. Fog Alerts: Dense fog advisories are in place across the U.S. on Friday morning that could reduce drivers’ visibility, including in parts of Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Florida and Minnesota. Northwestern Storms: Storms will pass through areas in the northwestern U.S. and northern Rocky Mountains through the weekend, the National Weather Service projected Friday morning, with parts of Washington, Oregon and northern California experiencing between three to five inches of rain by the end of the weekend. Warmer Temperatures: Much of the U.S. will experience warmer-than-average temperatures this weekend, according to the National Weather Service, predicting record high morning temperatures for this time of year in the central Plains, Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic regions at various points through Sunday.
How Is The Weather Impacting Travel?
The storms and thick fog caused widespread delays Thursday, with Dallas-area airports issuing ground stops and FlightAware reporting more than 8,000 flights were delayed. Those weather issues appear to be letting up Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration reported almost no major airports are facing severe widespread delays as of 10 a.m. EST, though San Francisco International Airport is experiencing delays of approximately 40 minutes due to weather. Travelers may see other more localized delays, however; major airports are reporting hours-long delays flying into Aspen, Colorado, due to weather, for instance, and flights into Palm Beach International Airport are also being delayed for more than an hour due to volume. Approximately 2,300 flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been delayed as of 10 a.m. EST on Friday, according to FlightAware, with 80 flights being canceled.
Big Number
15.2 million. That’s the number of travelers that have already passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports this holiday season between Dec. 21 and Dec. 26, according to the Transportation Security Administration, with upwards of 2 million travelers each day. AAA projected record holiday travel numbers this year, with an estimated 119 million people traveling more than 50 miles between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1—mostly on the road.
Further Reading
DFW and DAL airports implement ground stop due to severe weather (CBS News)
Powerful thunderstorms threaten Texas and Louisiana, delaying holiday travel (Associated Press)
Globe travel writer Christopher Muther reflects on 10 yrs. of trips
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