Severe Weather Threatens to Disrupt Peak Thanksgiving Travel Across the U.S.

As millions of Americans hit the roads and skies for what is expected to be a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel week, two major storm systems are poised to cause significant disruptions across large swaths of the country.

On Monday, more than 9 million people from Texas to southern Arkansas and the northern half of Louisiana face the threat of severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Meteorologists warn that these storms could intensify quickly, turning routine travel into a hazardous challenge.

Alongside the severe weather threat, flooding is a growing concern. Nearly 7 million residents in central and northern Texas—as well as parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas—are under flood risk as heavy bands of rain sweep through the region. Forecasters expect 1 to 2 inches of rainfall per hour through Monday morning, with another 1 to 3 inches likely by nightfall. Rapid accumulation on already saturated ground raises the likelihood of flash flooding, road closures, and air travel delays.

In a Monday morning briefing, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned:

“Flash flood and severe weather threats will gradually move through the Arklatex region today, reaching into the Tennessee Valley and interior Deep South/Southeast on Tuesday.”

This progression means that travelers from Texas to Tennessee and across the Deep South may contend not only with heavy rainfall but also dangerous storm conditions as the holiday approaches. Major airline hubs in Dallas, Houston, Memphis, and Atlanta could experience cascading delays that ripple nationwide.

Transportation officials urge travelers to monitor local forecasts, build in extra time, and prepare for last-minute changes. With more than 55 million Americans expected to travel this week—many of them on the busiest days of the season—the coming storms could create one of the more challenging Thanksgiving travel periods in recent years.

More updates are expected as forecasters track the evolving storm systems through midweek.