Severe Weather Disrupts Busiest Thanksgiving Travel Season/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Thanksgiving travel is off to a turbulent start as severe storms, ground stops, and winter weather disrupt air and road traffic across the U.S. Nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel, facing everything from snowstorms to TSA policy changes. Key airports, including Atlanta and Houston, experienced delays amid safety evacuations and weather alerts.
Thanksgiving Travel Weather Disruptions Quick Looks
- 2025 expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in 15 years.
- AAA estimates 73 million by road, 6 million flying.
- Atlanta and Houston airports faced weather-related ground stops.
- Winter storm warnings stretch from Montana to New York.
- Snow and wind to affect Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast.
- Rain expected across the Ohio Valley and Appalachia.
- TSA requires Real ID-compliant licenses starting this season.
- Best travel times include early morning and Thanksgiving Day.
Severe Weather Disrupts Busiest Thanksgiving Travel Season
Deep Look
The 2025 Thanksgiving travel season—forecasted to be the busiest in over a decade—kicked off with widespread travel disruptions, as severe weather conditions forced airport ground stops and posed significant road travel hazards across the United States.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration and AAA, roughly 79 million Americans are expected to travel this week, with 73 million by car and 6 million by air. However, a fast-moving winter storm sweeping across the northern U.S. and strong thunderstorms in the South have already begun disrupting travel plans.
Severe Weather Impacts Major Airports
On Tuesday morning, the air traffic control tower at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, one of the world’s busiest, was briefly evacuated due to severe weather and tornado warnings. Departures were temporarily halted and arrivals delayed as thunderstorms with gusts up to 37 mph swept through the region. FAA personnel returned to the tower once conditions stabilized.
In Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport also experienced a weather-related ground stop due to low cloud ceilings. Both airports resumed operations shortly after, but delays added to the growing pre-holiday traffic burden.
Winter Storm Rolls Across the Northern US
A potent storm system is bringing snow, rain, and hazardous travel conditions across nine states from Montana to New York. The Upper Midwest, including the eastern Dakotas, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is bracing for over a foot of snow in some areas.
Minneapolis-St. Paul is expected to receive 4 to 8 inches, marking the city’s first accumulating snowfall of the season. The eastern Great Lakes will see worsening conditions by Wednesday, as rain transitions into lake-effect snow, continuing through Thanksgiving Day.
Meanwhile, rain is spreading across the Ohio Valley and Appalachia, though it’s expected to remain less intense than the severe weather that struck the South on Monday.
Northeast, West Coast Prepare for Minor Disruptions
The Northeast will see rain and low cloud cover starting Tuesday evening, potentially causing delays at major airports in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia through Wednesday morning.
On the West Coast, Seattle and Portland are under a steady rain pattern lasting into Wednesday, but the rest of the region is expected to stay clear of major disruptions.
Real ID, Travel Etiquette, and Health Tips
This Thanksgiving is the first under the TSA’s new Real ID requirement for domestic flights. Passengers must now carry Real ID-compliant licenses, passports, or alternative approved IDs to pass airport security. IDs marked “not for federal use” are no longer valid for flying. Travelers without proper ID may face additional screening delays.
In addition, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged Americans to follow travel etiquette, including dressing appropriately in line with the administration’s new “Civility Campaign”.
Health experts also warn travelers to take precautions against holiday illnesses. Tips include frequent handwashing, wiping down tray tables and seats, and using air nozzles to create turbulent airflow to reduce virus transmission risk. The CDC recommends masks and sanitizers, especially in crowded airports and planes.
When to Travel: Best Times on the Road
To avoid the worst of the congestion, AAA recommends:
- Tuesday: Before 12 p.m.
- Wednesday: Before 11 a.m.
- Thanksgiving Day: Lightest travel impact
- Friday–Sunday: Before 11 a.m.
- Monday (return travel): After 8 p.m.
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