Thanksgiving travel: ‘Arctic outbreak’ forecast in some places as millions travel

The arctic blast could send temperatures as low as -30F to -40F (-34C to -40C) in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, said BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor.

The storm is expected to advance into the Midwest area, where it will also bring with it “lake-effect” snow and severe thunderstorms.

Places that could see a large dump of snow include the interior of New England and the Appalachians.

In the Midwest and Great Lakes region, there is a possibility of snow showers that could bring 4-8in of snow over the northern coastline of Michigan, according to the NWS.

The severe conditions come at a hectic time for travel. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says passenger volumes during this year’s Thanksgiving have already reached record highs.

The busiest days were expected to be Tuesday and Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, as well as the Sunday after the holiday. The TSA expects to screen nearly nine million people at airports during those three days.

Meanwhile, a record number of nearly 72 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles (80km) by car over the week, according to insurance company AAA. The anticipated increase is due to petrol prices that are lower than they were during the Thanksgiving holiday last year.

Airports have seen minimal disruptions so far, though travel could be disrupted in the coming days as the worst of the weather hits.

The I-90 highway between Cleveland and Buffalo and the I-81 north of Syracuse may see some travel disruptions, as snowfall is expected to mount in places south and east of the Great Lakes.