Severe weather threatens to disrupt peak Thanksgiving travel period

Severe weather throughout the country threatens widespread disruptions during what’s expected to be a record-high Thanksgiving travel week.

A tornado watch is in effect for parts of southeast Texas, including Houston, until 7 p.m. CT. Isolated large hail and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph are also possible.

A flood watch remains in effect for parts of northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas, including Texarkana. Those areas are forecast to get 1 to 3 inches of rain in a short period of time.

Travel is expected to be slow across parts of east Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and the western Gulf Coast on Monday.

A separate storm system affecting the northern Rockies will move across the Upper Midwest into New England through Wednesday.

Montana and western North Dakota are experiencing snowfall Monday, and scattered showers are affecting areas in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.

The storm will strengthen by Tuesday, bringing snow to Minnesota and northern Michigan. Heavy rain is also possible from the Gulf Coast up into the Northeast.

On Wednesday, snow will pass through Wisconsin and Michigan, with lake-effect snow picking up later in the day.

Snowfall totals are expected to be 3 to 6 inches from North Dakota to northern Michigan through Wednesday, with higher amounts possible in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Conditions are expected to clear in most of the country by Thanksgiving, except for lingering lake-effect snow and gusty winds across the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest.

The two storm systems could cause flight delays and dangerous driving conditions, as 82 million people in the United States are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday to Dec. 1, according to the AAA.

“In regard to air travel, this is going to be the busiest Thanksgiving that we have on record,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

“The airports are going to be packed,” Duffy added, encouraging all Thanksgiving flyers to arrive at airports early.

Tuesday will be the busiest travel day, with 52,000 scheduled flights, Duffy said.

Because of weather concerns, Duffy advised travelers to stay in touch with their airlines and to check their flight statuses on their airlines’ apps.

Drawing from the Transportation Department’s civility campaign, which was launched last week, Duffy encouraged people to have common courtesy, civility and patience when traveling.

He urged Thanksgiving flyers to “say please and thank you” to their pilots and flight attendants.

He also asked people to practice “dressing with some respect” at airports.

“Whether it’s a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better,” Duffy said. “Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport.”

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford expressed confidence ahead of the record-high travel period.

“I just want to assure the traveling public that we’re ready and we’re able to get the job done,” he said at Monday’s news conference.