As if travel conditions weren't stressful enough around the Thanksgiving holiday, this week's weather forecast for the East Coast, specifically areas near Boston, could potentially add to the headaches.
According to WCVB 5 News in Boston, multiple storms are expected to impact northeast Massachusetts ahead of Thursday's holiday.
Although Monday's storm is only expected to bring heavy rain and winds to the region, meteorologists are tracking another coastal storm that could severely impact travel plans on Wednesday.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to eastern Massachusetts, but could also result in a significant amount of snow for areas north and west, as noted by WCVB meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon:
The National Weather Service acknowledges that "exactly how much snow and where the rain/snow line sets up remain in question."
With traffic certain to be a nightmare in many major cities across the East Coast Wednesday regardless of the weather conditions, travelers would be wise to give themselves plenty of extra time, especially those headed to the airport, per Weather.com's Nick Wiltgen:
"For fliers it's increasingly looking like an ugly day. Whether the major East Coast airports see rain or snow, travel is likely to be snarled. High wind could add to flying woes if the low pressure center strengthens dramatically and stays close to shore."
Fortunately, the forecast calls for better conditions on Thanksgivng Day. Good news for those staying local or waiting until the weekend to travel.
Last week, Google Maps revealed traffic data for 21 major U.S. cities over the past two Thanksgiving holidays. The numbers showed that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was the worst day for traffic in 17 of those cities.
Assuming that trend continues in 2014, East Coast travelers, especially those navigating the northeast U.S., should brace themselves for a prolonged holiday journey.
If you're planning to travel this Thanksgiving, you're not alone. According to auto travel group AAA, this year's holiday is expected to be the busiest since 2007, with roughly 41 million Americans set to hit the road for Thanksgiving. Another 3.5 million are expected to fly.
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