christmas eve travel weather

Is the weather going to disrupt your Christmas travel plans? Here's what to know.

The holidays are here and they brought some serious weather with them, threatening many people's travel plans.

Around 115.2 million Americans are zipping up their suitcases to embark on their Christmas and New Year's travels. Some may be bracing for bad weather that could lead to travel headaches, though everyone is certainly hoping to avoid a catastrophe like last year's Southwest Airlines meltdown in which 17,000 flights were canceled. Thousands of people were stranded and even more suitcases went astray.

Parts of the U.S. have already been experiencing inclement weather this week, and today, travelers can expect large storms to complicate their plans with snow and rain over the middle of the U.S., according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

So far, there doesn’t appear to be any major flight cancellations or delays, but the same can’t be said about roads. Here’s what travelers should know. 

Which airline, airport has the most cancellations today?

As of 11:20 a.m. ET, there are only 105 U.S. flights canceled but 1,565 delayed, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware .

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Southwest Airlines has the most cancellations with 64, followed by Frontier with three and Allegiant with two.

What am I owed if my flight is canceled or delayed?

The Department of Transportation has a cancellation and delay dashboard to let you know what major U.S. airlines will do for you in the event of a disruption.

Policies around delays vary by carrier, but when it comes to cancellations, the rule of thumb is you're entitled to a full refund, even if you bought a nonrefundable ticket, should you choose not to travel on alternative flights that are offered.

If you're worried inclement weather could impact your trip, keep an eye out for updates from your airline. In anticipation of bad conditions, carriers often issue waivers that give you more flexibility to adjust your travel plans in advance without having to pay additional fees or fare differences.

What are you entitled to if your flight is delayed? 

U.S. airlines are required by the Department of Transportation to give passengers refunds if their flights are outright canceled, but the rules around delays are a little murkier.

There's no official requirement for passengers to receive a refund or reimbursement as a result of a flight delay. Even the DOT's website can be frustratingly vague for travelers.

Airlines prefer to automatically rebook you on their next available flight, but you are under no obligation to take it. Keep in mind, though, that a refund a) might not be instant and b) probably won't cover the cost of a new last-minute ticket unless your original ticket was pricey. So in many cases, the next-available flight might be the least-expensive option for getting to your destination or back home when things go awry last minute.

If you opt for a refund, you are eligible to get your money back, not just a travel credit or voucher. Airlines are quickest to offer credits and vouchers first, so travelers who want their money back instead often have to take some extra steps.

Are the roads busy today? What are the worst times to travel by car?

Very likely. 

Drivers experienced the worst traffic before Christmas on Dec. 23.

Check navigation apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze, before heading out and pick your preferred route. You can also check ahead on road closures at the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration national links file (click here) .

After Christmas, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, the roads are forecasted to be packed between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 28 and 29, according to INRIX.

As people head to their New Year's destinations, the worst traffic will be between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 30.

What are the best times to travel by car?

Drivers with flexibility in their travel plans should hit the road on Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's to avoid the worst traffic .

The days between Christmas and New Year's (Tuesday, Dec. 26; Wednesday, Dec. 27; Thursday, Dec. 28; Friday; Dec. 29; and Saturday, Dec. 30) will be the most hectic on the roads. The least traffic will be before noon.

Honk: She got a ticket for beeping her car horn. Now she's asking the Supreme Court to sound off.

Am I paying too much for gas? 

The national average for gas prices per gallon is $3.11 , with Hawaii seeing the highest prices at an average of $4.66 per gallon and Oklahoma the lowest at $2.61 per gallon.

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A severe arctic storm could threaten holiday travel across the U.S.

Emily Olson

David Schaper

Ivy Winfrey

An airline passenger walks between ride share vehicles after arriving at Chicago's Midway Airport just days before a major winter storm Tuesday, Dec. 20, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

An airline passenger walks between ride share vehicles after arriving at Chicago's Midway Airport just days before a major winter storm Tuesday, Dec. 20, in Chicago.

Millions of Americans may want to reconsider their holiday travel plans, as bitter cold, biting wind and heavy snow are expected across the U.S. this week, imposing treacherous conditions just days before Christmas.

A bulletin from the National Weather Service (NWS) says a "strong arctic high pressure system," was sweeping down from Canada on Tuesday and appears poised to march towards the Great Plains, the Midwest and onto the Southeast on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, bringing life-threatening blizzard conditions and cold weather systems across 17 states.

The first day of winter arrives this week, marked by the solstice

Heavy snowfall and limited visibility caused Vancouver International Airport to temporarily shut down Tuesday, stranding scores of passengers. That could be a sign of things to come for holiday travelers in the U.S., as the frigid weather system moves across the country this week.

A man clears a driveway after a snow storm passed through northern Minnesota last week. Forecasters say another big storm is expected to hit the region this week. Holden Law/AP hide caption

A man clears a driveway after a snow storm passed through northern Minnesota last week. Forecasters say another big storm is expected to hit the region this week.

At least 250 flights into and out of the Seattle-Tacoma airport were cancelled Tuesday as heavy snow fell there, according to the tracking site Flight Aware. The Cascade Mountains in Washington state were seeing the heaviest snowfall on Tuesday, but nearby lowlands in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming could see a foot of snow, according to the NWS. The region could see another blast of snow and ice on Thursday.

The incoming arctic front will then cross over the northern Rockies, Great Basin and Northern Plains regions, sending temperatures plummeting as low as minus 30 degrees, with winds gusting at up to 60 mph.

Snow is likely to move into parts of Nebraska, Kansas, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin on Wednesday. By Thursday, blizzard conditions could hit the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions, including Chicago, potentially causing significant flight delays and cancellation at O'Hare International Airport, one of the nation's biggest airline hubs. The major travel hub cities of Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis are expected to be impacted, too.

For the eastern U.S., heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday could result in snow or sleet in the Appalachian states on Thursday.

The National Weather Service temperature map for Tuesday. NWS hide caption

By Friday, temperatures could hit the season's lowest in what is only the first week of winter. Even northern Florida cities like Jacksonville and Tallahassee could see a chill as low as 20 F on Christmas Eve.

Most major airlines, including United, American, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, are offering to waive change fees and fare differences for those wanting to change flights so they can travel before or after the storm, within small rebooking windows.

"That allows travelers who have tickets now and throughout the holiday week to take a look and reconsider," says Kathleen Bangs, spokesperson of the tracking site FlightAware.com. "Reconsider what day you want to go on, maybe reconsider the route if you have a connecting city, and reconsider possibly just changing that ticket to later on in the week or even banking that ticket for later use."

Her advice to all travelers this time of year:

" You really need to have a backup plan" Bangs says. "And that could mean anything from a secondary ticket on a different airline that leaves later in the day or perhaps the next morning. It means a reroute through another city where perhaps you get within a couple hundred miles of your destination and then you rent a car or you take a train."

Bangs says that in this weather there's a chance any flight could be canceled at any time, and it may be difficult to get a hold of a representative from an airline.

AAA says of the 113 million Americans traveling this holiday season, more than 90% of them will be driving. And with forecasts calling for blowing and drifting snow, as well as whiteout conditions in some parts, they should proceed with extreme caution, forecasters say.

"Low visibility will create even more dangerous travel conditions on top of snow covered roadways," the NWS says. "Additionally, the strong winds could lead to potential power outages from the Midwest to the Northeast."

"It is imperative that travelers check the latest forecast before venturing out."

Buffalo Bills fans braved chilly temperatures to sit in snow-covered seats during an NFL game in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Saturday. Adrian Kraus/AP hide caption

Buffalo Bills fans braved chilly temperatures to sit in snow-covered seats during an NFL game in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Saturday.

An outage that left 180,000 without power across New England over the weekend was resolved by Monday, but the Associated Press reported that attempts to bring extra utility workers into the state ahead of this week's storm were stymied by slick roads.

Heavy snow has left thousands without power in New England and New York

Police across New England also said they responded to hundreds of crashes and stranded vehicles, according to local media reports.

Frostbite is another risk for those trying to brave the cold, the NWS says. Subzero temperatures in some parts of the U.S. this week could lead to frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Those venturing outside should dress in layers, cover their skin and change into dry clothing as soon as possible. But, experts say, the best prevention by far is simply to stay indoors.

• winter weather
• holiday travel
• travel conditions

High-impact storm to wreak havoc on holiday week travel

A massive storm system will affect most of the country this week leading up to Christmas Eve, with the most significant impacts to major travel hubs from the Midwest to the Northeast expected Thursday and Friday.

The storm will begin to organize on Wednesday, bringing snow and wind to the Rockies and northern Plains.

On Thursday, heavy snow with strong winds will move into the Midwest, Great Lakes and central Plains. At the same time, the rain will spread across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Blizzard conditions are likely with the combo of heavy snow and wind gusts in excess of 50 mph possible.

According to the forecast on Monday morning, Friday is set to be the highest impact day, given snow will still be falling hard across parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes as winds roar across these regions.

On Friday, the winds are forecast to be the strongest not just across the Midwest and Great Lakes but also across the Northeast and New England. Even the Southeast will experience strong winds. Blizzard conditions will be ongoing for areas still experiencing the snow.

While too early to predict exact snow totals across the Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, there is a likelihood of a foot or more in several spots.

As snow is falling across the Midwest and Great Lakes, the I-95 corridor will be getting lashed with torrential rain and strong winds. While the dominant precipitation type from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast is expected to be mostly rain, it could end as a burst of snow on Friday as the storm exits and arctic air rushes in.

All of the major airport hubs will be affected

Chicago can expect snow and powerful winds beginning Wednesday night and lasting through Friday night.

Atlanta, while on the lighter rain side of the storm, will still get strong winds that could cause air delays for flights at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which consistently ranks as the world's busiest.

Washington's heavy rain on Thursday and the rain and wind combination on Friday will cause major issues. Despite the precipitation ending late Friday, strong winds lingering in the first half of Saturday could continue to spark delays until the winds subside.

New York City area airports will also be in for a long stretch of delays beginning with the rain on Thursday, and the number of delays and likely cancellations are expected to get worse on Friday due to high winds accompanying the rain.

Boston will hold onto the precipitation the longest into the holiday weekend, with the rain beginning Thursday and not ending until early Saturday. High winds will also lead to delays and cancellations.

Whether the hubs are experiencing rain or snow, all will experience strong winds that will compound delays and lead to all-around uncomfortable flights due to turbulence.

Travel on the roads will be equally hazardous. Whether blizzard conditions producing whiteout visibilities across the Midwest or heavy rain causing blinding spray on the windshields, Thursday and Friday won't be great days to be driving or flying.

In addition to the large storm this week, an arctic outbreak that gets started Monday across the northern Plains will affect everyone east of the Rockies by Christmas weekend.

Temperatures this week will be 30-40 degrees below average, resulting in bone-chilling temperatures and these headlines to watch out for:

• Wind chills as cold as 60 below zero across the Rockies and northern Plains.
• Many locations in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest will experience their first sub-zero high temperatures.
• A few record lows will be possible, including for Denver, which is forecast to hit 16 below zero on Friday
• Of particular concern are below-freezing temperatures headed for Texas, which could arrive Thursday night and last into Saturday. This will spark energy and pipe-freeze concerns late in the week for areas as far south as Houston. Wind chill warnings are likely all the way to the Gulf Coast.
• Once the arctic air spills south and east by the end of the week and into the weekend, it could result in the coldest Christmas in years for many.
• The cold air will rush in so fast it could cause a flash freeze. New York City, for example, will go from a high on Friday around 56 to a low Saturday morning of 19 — a 30-degree temperature drop in less than 12 hours.

Not even Florida will escape the cold weather. Low temperatures this weekend will be 20s across northern Florida, 30s in central Florida and 40s for South Florida.

Kathryn Prociv is a senior meteorologist and producer for NBC News. 

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Planning Holiday Travel? How Wind, Cold and Snow Could Disrupt Your Trip.

A storm could make for treacherous conditions for parts of the country. ‘‘It could be one of the coldest Christmases in a while,’’ one meteorologist said.

Where Saturday Morning’s Predicted Low Temperatures Are Colder Than Normal

Degrees warmer or colder than average low temperature for Dec. 24

By Livia Albeck-Ripka and Judson Jones

• Published Dec. 18, 2022 Updated Dec. 24, 2022

In parts of Montana and the Dakotas, temperatures have already plunged into the minus 20s, leaving some residents unable to start their cars.

In Washington State, on a major interstate highway pummeled by snow, cars and trucks have spun out of control, forcing the highway to close.

And in Seattle, the ghastly weather has also forced the cancellation or delay of hundreds of flights at the city’s major airport, leaving holiday plans upended.

With less than five days to go until Christmas, forecasters are warning of a rapidly intensifying “bomb cyclone” storm that will tear across vast swaths of the country this week, likely disrupting major roadways and air travel. A frigid blast of Arctic air will also sweep south across the country, sending temperatures plunging far below their late-December averages, with parts of every state expected to experience below-freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve, forecasters say.

“The tandem of bitterly cold temperatures and an intensifying storm system over the Rockies and Central Plains by midweek will mean treacherous travel for many locations along and east of the Rockies,” the Weather Service said, adding that anyone in those regions should closely monitor the forecast. In some places, forecasters said, the weather conditions may even prove life-threatening.

The powerful storm is expected to develop and move across parts of the Midwest, Central Appalachians, eastern Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast this week, bringing a mix of strong winds, rain and snow, including blizzard conditions, that could make travel dangerous leading up to the holiday weekend.

In Rugby, N.D., a city of about 2,000 people 150 miles north of Bismarck, residents were already struggling to start their cars as temperatures hit minus 22 on Tuesday afternoon. Such blistering cold is well below the average for this time of year, according to forecasters.

“The second you step outside, it’s pretty much a slap in the face,” said Vita Thomas, who runs a bar in Rugby. She said that while North Dakotans were used to cold temperatures, it was a shock to have to endure it in the lead-up to Christmas. “It’s like walking into a glass door as hard as you possibly could,” she said of the cold.

In the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, temperatures could dip into the negative teens by Christmas Eve and the following days, according to the service. It said subzero temperatures could reach as far south as the Central Plains, while temperatures in the single digits were expected in the stretch from the Northeast to the Ohio Valley and up to the Great Lakes.

“Combined with wind gusts up to 60 m.p.h., widespread wind chill values could drop to around minus 40 degrees throughout the central and north-central United States,” forecasters with the prediction center said Tuesday. “This level of cold can be life threatening and lead to frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.”

Below-freezing temperatures are forecast even for parts of southern Texas, the Gulf Coast and Florida over the weekend and into next week, the service said. Low temperatures along parts of the Gulf Coast could drop into the teens and low 20s.

The arctic air will dip so far south that it won’t feel like the tropics in Florida this Christmas, with lows falling into the 30s and 40s over the weekend.

“For some folks, it could be one of the coldest Christmases in a while,” said Zackary Taylor, a senior meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.

“The cold air spilling southward is certainly some of the coldest air we’ve seen so far this winter and there is the potential there for some record low temperatures,” he said, adding that temperatures across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country were expected to drop as much as 30 degrees below normal for this time of year.

Nearly 40 locations across the United States are forecast to plummet to record-breaking daily cold temperatures on Thursday and Friday.

The cold air mass is expected to begin its surge southward by the middle of the week, sweeping from the Northern Rocky Mountains toward the eastern part of the country.

Every state in the country, if you count the summits in Hawaii, is expected to get below-freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve, said Alex Lamers, the warning coordination meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.

When the cold mass begins to move through, it is going to arrive really fast. “The temperature “could drop several dozen degrees in a matter of a few hours, like 30 degrees or so,” Mr. Lamers said.

Along the leading edge of the cold air mass, a winter storm will rapidly intensify across the Midwest and into the Great Lakes.

“Snow is likely to add to the preholiday travel headaches from the central Plains to the Midwest and Great Lakes as a major winter storm begins to develop,” the prediction center forecasters wrote Tuesday.

It will produce not only heavy snow in the Midwest and Great Lakes but also relentless winds leading to blizzard conditions in places like Chicago and Milwaukee.

It’s a stronger-than-normal storm system for the Great Lakes, Mr. Lamers said.

Blizzard conditions will most likely be contained to the Central and Northern Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes.

Blizzards like this one can have a serious impact on travel, and even just getting around outside can be treacherous because of the strong winds.

United Airlines, which has a hub in Chicago, said that it had already issued waivers to passengers traveling to or from any affected airports Wednesday through Friday. Delays may add up in areas of the country that aren’t just experiencing blizzard conditions. “Very strong winds are expected to impact nearly the entire eastern half of the U.S. as this large system becomes fully mature by Thursday night,” the prediction center forecasters said.

It isn’t just air travel that could be an issue; the weather will also have a significant impact on ground-level travel.

“You don’t want to get yourself in a situation where you’re stuck and having to deal with the kind of cold that we’re talking about,” Mr. Lamers said.

While the bitter cold will have a broader impact, “the snow and wind is going to be pretty significant where it does occur,” said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.

Clearing the roads of snow under such conditions could prove challenging. “It’s going to be so cold, it’s not going to melt,” he said.

How much snow falls, and where, will depend on where the center of the storm develops and intensifies.

The forecasters are predicting Tuesday that the greatest chances for over eight inches of snow will be across the states that surround Lake Michigan.

Something else forecasters are watching for is a flash freeze. With the speed of the cold air moving in, if any area receives rain ahead of it, there is the potential for that moisture to freeze before it evaporates.

If the forecast holds, cities on the East Coast, including New York and Washington, are unlikely to have a white Christmas, as the storm will probably pass on Thursday and Friday as a “rain event” before temperatures plummet. New York is forecast to reach a high near 30 degrees on Christmas Day.

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a reporter for The Times based in California. She was previously a reporter in the Australia bureau. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka

Judson Jones is a meteorologist and reporter for The Times, covering the most extreme storms across the globe. More about Judson Jones

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Christmas holiday forecast: Warm in the East, stormy in the West

Travel will be difficult in the western mountains, one of the few places assured a white Christmas in the Lower 48

AAA is predicting that 109 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more to celebrate the holidays between Thursday and Jan. 2. That includes a threefold uptick in air travel compared with last year. The weather could throw a wrench in the plan for some, though many areas will enjoy tranquil, balmy weather for late December.

The big story nationwide will be unseasonable warmth occupying most of the central and eastern Lower 48. The exception will be over the northern Intermountain West and northern Plains, where a chilly air mass will lap southward.

Despite the expansive toasty and tranquil weather, there will be some trouble spots, primarily in the western United States due to heavy precipitation. That’s also where, in the high elevations, we’ll see the greatest chance of a white Christmas.

The month as a whole has featured exceptional warmth and bouts of severe weather, including three other major warm pulses, two of which coincided with outbreaks of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.

December tornado record crushed by historic onslaught of storms in U.S.

Where the holiday will feel more like springtime

Temperatures will spike markedly over the south-central and southeastern United States on Christmas Eve, surging 30 degrees or more above normal. Oklahoma City will peak around 80 degrees on Friday, compared with an average high of 49 degrees. This would represent the warmest December temperature observed in the Sooner State’s capital since 1966. It will enjoy sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s on Saturday, a far cry from Christmas 2012, when a half-inch coating of snow fell.

Wichita should see highs in the lower 70s on Friday, nearly 30 degrees warmer than its typical late-December high of 44, but those won’t eclipse the 83 degrees from Dec. 24, 1955.

Enter winter, the fastest-warming season

A Christmas record is virtually a certainty in Dallas , where a high of 83 is predicted. The city’s previous warmest Christmas on record occurred in 2016, when a high of 80 degrees was recorded.

While the heat will be anchored over the central Plains on Friday, it will be squashed south and east as cold air encroaches from the north and west. Chicago will see highs near 50 on Christmas Eve before slipping to the mid-40s on Christmas Day.

Across the Tennessee Valley, mainly sunny and breezy conditions are likely, with highs in the lower 70s on Friday and the mid-70s on Saturday. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Memphis could tie a century-old record that has held since 1889 on Christmas.

The warmth will crest on the East Coast on Christmas Day, with highs in the nation’s capital around 63 degrees.

Where to watch for trouble spots

While most of the central and eastern United States will be A-okay for travel, the West Coast will experience considerable travel issues. Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings stretch from the Cascades to the southern Sierra Nevada, with feet of snow possible in the higher elevations.

In the mountains of Oregon and Washington state, up to two feet of snow is possible at elevations above 5,000 feet. The snow will taper down by Thursday evening, with improving conditions into the morning on Christmas Eve before a second system will bring additional valley rains and mountain snows later in the day.

California will see back-to-back-to-back systems, with heavy rain in the northern lowlands and San Joaquin Valley on Thursday and extreme snowfall rates in the mountains. That moisture will shift south and east on Christmas Eve, with snow levels dropping as low as 2,500 feet and affecting some of the mountain passes in the central Sierra Nevada.

Southern California, including Los Angeles, will see a burst of rain during the first half of Christmas Eve, with up to several inches possible.

Here's the latest forecast precipitation totals through Christmas afternoon. The period with the highest amounts has also slowed a bit to Thursday and Friday. Biggest impact will be on the roadways. Travel safe this Holiday weekend! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/PZJa84sd7B — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) December 21, 2021

Another weaker system will swing-slip southeastward from Northern California into the south-central part of the state Christmas Day into Sunday.

From the two systems, 10 inches of liquid-equivalent precipitation will accumulate in the central Sierra Nevada around Yosemite National Park, with moisture forced up the mountains where it gathers in the high elevations. Temperatures up there are well below freezing, though, meaning snow will fall, with upward of 10 feet possible.

“Heavy mountain snow & gusty winds will combine for extremely difficult holiday travel,” tweeted the National Weather Service in Sacramento. “Mountain travel will be hazardous, and is highly discouraged, with whiteout conditions possible at times.”

Mountain snow is also likely Christmas Eve into Christmas Day across the Four Corners region and into the Colorado Rockies, with only light precipitation as the system translates east over the Central Plains and Corn Belt. That system may eventually be energized off the coast of New England on Christmas, with rain light north of New York City and snow or mixed precipitation across parts of New York state, the Berkshires, the White and Green mountains and most of northern New England.

Aside from areas of light snow in the West and northern Plains, most of the contiguous United States looks tranquil on Sunday.

Who could see a white Christmas

The mountains of California, Oregon and Washington. The high elevations of the broader western United States will, too. A white Christmas is defined as an inch of snow present on Christmas morning. It doesn’t have to be freshly fallen, and snow doesn’t even have to come down on Dec. 25 — it’s simply a question of what’s on the ground.

While 22 percent of the United States is technically covered by snow, much of what’s left in North Dakota, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin may disappear in temperatures close to 40 degrees on Friday. It’ll be a battle between chilly ground temperatures and mild air.

The snowpack across central and northern New England should survive, particularly with some replenishing snowfall on Christmas Day.

Overall, though, the country’s snow cover is far below where it should be — normally around 40 percent — a product of this month’s bizarre warmth, as well as longer-term climate trends. The odds of a white Christmas are declining across much of the nation. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 18 out of the nation’s largest 25 cities have seen their frequency of white Christmases drop in the past decade.

Jason Samenow contributed to this report.

Christmas travel tips: Best and worst days to fly or drive

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel.

Millions of Americans are gearing up to hit the highway and take to the skies ahead of the holidays.

Here's what you need to know before packing your bags:

Holiday travel by air

AAA predicts this holiday season will be the busiest ever for air travel, with 7.5 million people projected to fly from Saturday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 1. This would break the record high of 7.3 million flyers set during the 2019 holiday season.

Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 are forecast to be the busiest days for departures, according to Hopper.

Domestic airfares are averaging $349 round trip -- a 3% increase from last year, according to Hopper.

MORE: Delta flight carrying 270 diverted to remote Canadian town

The cheapest days to fly will be Dec. 19, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Hopper. The most expensive days are Dec. 22 and Dec. 26.

United Airlines said it expects its busiest-ever holiday travel season, with about 9 million passengers planning to fly from Dec. 21 to Jan. 8. This is a 12% jump from last year.

United said it anticipates Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 will be its busiest days for Christmas travel, while Jan. 2 will be the busiest day for New Year's travel.

Delta Air Lines is preparing for nearly 9 million customers during its holiday travel period, which runs from Dec. 21 to Jan. 7.

Delta said its peak days are expected to be Dec. 21 to Dec. 22 and Dec. 26 to Dec. 30.

Holiday travel by road

MORE: What every motorist needs to know about driving in snow

AAA expects 104 million people to hit the road over the holidays -- a 1.8% increase from last year.

The busiest days are forecast to be Saturday, Dec. 23; Thursday, Dec. 28; and Saturday, Dec. 30, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

If you're leaving for the holidays on Dec. 23, the best time to head out the door is before 10 a.m., according to INRIX. And if you're heading home the day after Christmas, the roads will be emptiest before noon, INRIX said.

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Christmas weekend travel could be dangerous as powerful storm hits Upstate New York

• Updated: Dec. 20, 2022, 2:03 p.m.
• | Published: Dec. 20, 2022, 9:59 a.m.

Odds are high that a winter storm sweeping across the nation will have significant impacts on Upstate New York, particularly icy roads and power outages on Friday.

• Glenn Coin | [email protected]

Syracuse, N.Y. — A massive winter storm rumbling across the U.S. this week could cause icy roads and power outages in Upstate New York just as the Christmas weekend travel begins.

On Thursday and Friday, Upstate New York is expected to get heavy rain that would wash away road salt. As temperatures plunge during the day Friday, roads and sidewalks could become sheets of ice. Winds of up to 55 mph could knock down trees and power lines. Lake effect snow could kick in over the weekend for areas downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

In the Midwest, the storm is predicted to bring brutal cold and blizzard conditions that could snarl air travel and lead to delays and cancellations across the country.

“This would be a storm with significant travel impacts on any day of the week/time of the year, but this will only be enhanced by the fact that this is occurring ahead of a holiday weekend,” said the National Weather Service office in Binghamton, which covers Central New York and the Finger Lakes.

Bitterly cold air is spilling down from the Arctic Circle, pushing temperatures in Canada to 50 below zero already. That mass of air will keep dropping deep into the US, eventually bringing temperatures in the teens as far south as Florida.

Cold air from the Arctic Circle will push all the way into the southern U.S. this week, causing blizzard conditions in the Midwest and ice and high winds in the Northeast.

The national weather service headquarters urged anyone traveling in the U.S. late this week to keep up to date on forecasts.

“With such a large and powerful storm system impacting a majority of the nation during one of the biggest travel weeks of the year,” the weather service said , “it is imperative that travelers check the latest forecast before venturing out.”

Here’s the latest thinking on how the storm will unfold in Upstate New York. This forecast is likely to change, so check our weather page for updates.

Thursday morning: Precipitation will start falling by late morning. Temperatures will be cold enough at the start for light snow or a snow and rain mix, but as temperatures warm during the afternoon we’ll see all rain.

Thursday night : The storm ramps up after dark, with rain becoming heavier and winds picking up. An inch or more of rain could fall by Friday afternoon, which could lead to isolated flooding problems.

Friday morning : The heaviest rain is likely to fall Friday morning through early afternoon, and wind gusts could reach 55 mph as the cold front smashes into the warm air from the south. Winds that powerful could break tree limbs, which would fall onto utility lines and cause power outages.

Temperatures keep rising into the 40s or even low 50s through Friday morning.

Friday afternoon . When the cold front crashes in from the west, the real problems start. Temperatures are likely to plunge from 50 to freezing in a few hours, and keep falling to about 20 by Friday night. A flash freeze could occur, turning wet surfaces like streets and sidewalks into the equivalent of ice skating rinks. It might take road crews a while to get roads clear again. Rain switches over to light snow across much of Upstate into Saturday.

High winds continue to blow until late Friday night, driving wind chills to well below zero in some parts of Upstate.

Saturday (Christmas Eve): Rain ends and winds start to ebb. The cold air settles in, however, and highs on Saturday and Christmas Day are only in the high teens or low 20s, with overnight wind chills remaining below zero.

Cold air and winds will generate lake effect snow, largely in Western New York and Tug Hill.

Christmas Day : Cold again, with highs only in the lower 20s. It remains to be seen who ends up with some lake effect snow. It could dip as far south as Syracuse, leaving open the chance for a white Christmas.

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Christmas travel forecast: Where holiday travelers can expect rain, snow to trigger flight delays

According to aaa, more than 109 million people will travel at least 50 miles to get to their holiday destination.

Snow, rain disrupting flights

Active weather across the U.S. is causing flight delays as people look to travel home from their holiday activities Sunday.

As millions of Americans flock to the roads and the skies during the Christmas weekend, FOX Weather is tracking a few storm systems that could create holiday travel disruptions across the West, Midwest and Northeast.

According to AAA, more than 109 million people will travel at least 50 miles to get to their holiday destination, nearly a 34% increase from 2020. If predictions hold true, airlines will see a 184% increase in travelers over last year.

Let's take a closer look at the forecast for each day through the weekend.

7 THINGS TO TALK ABOUT DURING YOUR CHRISTMAS VACATION

(FOX Weather)

A Western storm system will continue to bring snow and rain from parts of the West Coast to the Rockies on Sunday. Additional flight delays are likely at hubs such as Seattle, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

Another low-pressure system will arrive in the Northern Plains and Midwest on Sunday, with snow possible in portions of the Dakotas and upper Midwest while rain falls farther south into mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys. A few weather-related delays are possible in those areas, including Minneapolis/St. Paul and Fargo, North Dakota.

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Dry conditions are predicted for most of the East Coast, the Central and Southern Plains and the South. However, lingering snow showers and gusty winds might trigger a couple of flight delays in portions of northern New England and upstate New York.

Through mid-week

Storm systems continue moving through the U.S. as 2021 comes to a close. Here's a look at the possible travel delays expected as the new year approaches.

Forecasted airport delays for Dec. 27, 2021 ( )

Forecasted airport delays for Dec. 28, 2021 ( )

Forecasted airport delays for Dec. 29, 2021 ( )

Forecasted airport delays for Dec. 30, 2021 ( )

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