Holiday travelers all over America can expect the traffic to intensify during Thanksgiving weekend but the worst jams will occur even before that.
According to CBS News, a majority of the worst traffic jams will occur before the five-day Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday to Sunday. This is because a lot of Americans will want to leave earlier to avoid the holiday rush and travel delays. The roads will actually start to congest on Tuesday evening when office hours end and commuters make the journey around 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The following morning was usually when traffic started to worsen. However, it is now the day before that congestion happens. The worst traffic is expected in metro areas like Chicago around the I-90 and I-19 interchange. In New York, travelers can count on bumper-to-bumper mayhem on Long Island's I-495 where the intersection with NY106 and NY107 is located. In Los Angeles, it is the I-5 at Valley View Avenue where slow-moving cars can be expected.
The case is the same for airports where airline gridlock is worst on Tuesday evenings. Travelers who want to make the most of their holidays will have to leave earlier to avoid delays. The JFK Airport will be packed with people coming from the Long Island Expressway while Chicago's O'Hare Airport will be filling up with travelers via the Kennedy Expressway.
As for weather, according to Tom Kines, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, if temperatures dip into the low 30s, there would be potential snow or ice the following day. However, he said that the snow or ice should not last long. Kines further added that those travelling upstate will more likely see snow especially if they are driving toward the Great Lakes.
Travelers should take every precaution to journey safely. Stay tuned for more reports as the situation unfolds.
