Thanksgiving snowstorm and weather forecast: what states will be affected?

Last year many families decided not to gather in person because the virus posed a serious threat as vaccines were not yet available. A year later, many families are planning to celebrate in the traditional manner, meaning that millions will head to airports across the country in the coming days.

However, for those who will be traveling, the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center has released a report saying "Potential heavy rainfall for portions of the Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley, and Pacific Northwest may impact travel for the Thanksgiving holiday." However, these storms are not expected to impact travel for the majority of those around the country.

The National Weather Service updates a map that shows various weather-related issues which are occurring or could occur around the country. Here is what you need to know for the next week.

Rain

Much of East Texas, including the areas around Austin, Dallas, and Houston, most of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri are set to experience heavy rain in the next three to seven days. Rain can cause air traffic delays, and lead to cancellation if severe enough.

Colder than normal temperature

Much of the south, including from Florida to South Carolina will see temperatures below their average for this time of year.

Airline staffing shortages could also pose problems

In addition to possible weather delays, many are expecting air travelers to experience other issues. With more passengers taking to the sky, during a single period, since the pandemic began the industry could be unable to meet the demand. Airlines and airports are short-staffed, meaning that more flights could be canceled as there are not enough pilots or flight staff to fill in the gaps.

Lines for TSA could be longer than usual as the agency has not needed to staff up to its pre-pandemic level as air traffic has remained under its 2019 levels.

In a recent article published by Vox, reporter Terry Nguyen predicted what many travelers may find saying "Holiday fliers should expect the short end of the travel stick: crowds, long security lines, packed planes, poor customer service, and an overall meh flying experience unless they can afford first-class treatment."

So, while many may be focused on the weather-related issues they could encounter, travelers should prepare for a poor quality travel experience.