Arctic blast set to cause Thanksgiving travel chaos

An Arctic blast moving in on the Northeast has millions bracing for the coldest Thanksgiving in a century with possible snow and icy winds set to cause travel chaos for the 54 million Americans trying to get home.

New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. are bracing for a bitterly cold Thanksgiving with temperatures falling 15 to 30 degrees below average – likely making it the coldest morning in almost 100 years.

Subzero wind chills are also expected to blast the area. 

Light pockets of snow has also been forecast across some parts of Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine on Wednesday ahead of Thanksgiving.  

Flight delays were also already piling up on Wednesday morning across the country, including at the Pittsburgh International Airport (above), with more than 485 delays and 50 cancellations before 9am

Traffic in Los Angeles on Tuesday night was already heavily congested on highway leading out of the city. The US Department of Transportation was urging travelers to check conditions and road closures before they set off on their journey

Traffic in Los Angeles on Tuesday night was already heavily congested on highway leading out of the city. The US Department of Transportation was urging travelers to check conditions and road closures before they set off on their journey

Those trying to travel home ahead of the holiday are facing difficulties in New England with the remnants of a recent snowstorm leaving messy road conditions across much of the region. 

The additional forecast snow for Wednesday followed by blustery winds is expected to make it even more difficult for those drivers. 

Flight delays were also already piling up on Wednesday morning across the country with more than 485 delays and 50 cancellations before 9am.

By the end of Tuesday, 180 flights were cancelled and 3,500 flights delayed, according to tracking service FlightAware.

Meanwhile heavy rain is expected to slow traffic on Wednesday in much of California, Oregon and Washington.

The US Department of Transportation was urging travelers to check conditions and road closures before they set off on their journey. 

Traffic in Los Angeles on Tuesday night was already heavily congested on highway leading out of the city.  

An Arctic blast moving in on the Northeast has millions bracing for the coldest Thanksgiving in two decades with possible snow and icy winds set to cause travel chaos

An Arctic blast moving in on the Northeast has millions bracing for the coldest Thanksgiving in two decades with possible snow and icy winds set to cause travel chaos

Snow is not expected to continue across the Northeast on Thanksgiving and Black Friday due to dry air conditions. 

Low temperatures in New York on Thanksgiving are not expected to reach higher than the teens and wind gusts could reach 35 mph. The winds could potentially ground some balloons from the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Boston temperatures on Thursday will also not hit a high of 20 degrees.

Temperatures haven’t been this low on Thanksgiving in New York and Boston since 1901. 

In the central region of the US the greatest likelihood of rain is predicted near the Texas Gulf coast, with dry weather predicted in the north-central states.

Floridians have been warned that showers may hit Wednesday or Thursday. 

In the Midwest, wintry-cold temperatures flowing across the Great Lakes are expected to generate snow for some of the areas off Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario through Wednesday.

Light snowfall is in the forecast for Northeast Ohio; Erie, and western Upstate New York into late Wednesday afternoon and evening.

People wait in line to board an Amtrak train at Pennsylvania Station in New York on Wednesday

People wait in line to board an Amtrak train at Pennsylvania Station in New York on Wednesday

Long queues were forming at O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday in Chicago ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday

Long queues were forming at O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday in Chicago ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday

Roads were congested in Chicago on Tuesday as millions hit the road before Thanksgiving

Roads were congested in Chicago on Tuesday as millions hit the road before Thanksgiving

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