Memorial Day weekend travel crowds roads and planes

Memorial Day weekend travel is expected to be extremely busy, with AAA predicting 43.8 million people traveling, marking a 4% increase from last year and the second highest on record. Approximately 38.4 million will drive, the highest since 2000, and 3.5 million will fly, with the TSA preparing for a surge in passengers. Severe weather across the Plains, Midwest, and mid-South could disrupt plans, with forecasts predicting storms, tornadoes, and other severe conditions.

Despite the anticipated bad weather, travel enthusiasm remains high as Americans are eager to embrace the summer season, continuing the trend of increased post-pandemic travel. Travelers are advised to plan ahead for traffic and airport congestion, leave early, and prepare for emergencies, including packing essentials like snacks, water, and blankets to handle potential delays and adverse conditions effectively.

The weather forecasts for the affected regions during the holiday weekend include several threats, such as thunderstorms, wildfires, and even snow. These conditions are expected to impact areas including Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Montana as "multiple jet stream disturbances tap into warm and humid air," according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center outlooks. Additionally, there are risks of tornadoes, damaging wind, and hail, following a recent tornado in Iowa that resulted in four fatalities and at least 35 injuries.