Travel could be Disrupted by the Winter Weather and a Possible government Shutdown

Christmas approaches, and millions of Americans are expected to travel this year. However, they may run into travel problems due to winter weather and a possible government shutdown, which may leave TSA agents and air traffic controllers without pay.

Last-minute shoppers and travelers may have to contend with some minor winter storms prior to Christmas.

A AAA report predicts that over 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Saturday and New Year’s Day, making it the busiest holiday travel season ever.

According to the TSA, 40 million people are expected to be screened from now until January 2, with today, December 27 and December 30 being the busiest days.

If a funding deal is not reached by Friday midnight, TSA agents and air traffic controllers may be working through the rush without a paycheck.

Travel crushes, however, may help lawmakers break Washington’s impasse. In 2019, 10 air traffic controllers stayed home during a 35-day government shutdown.

Absences caused delays at New York’s LaGuardia airport, Philadelphia’s airport, and Atlanta’s airport temporarily.

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A funding crisis looms as Mother Nature prepares to deliver a dose of winter weather that could impede travel.

Storms that moved through Upper Midwest and Northern Plains earlier this week are heading for the Northeast, with rain and light snow expected in major metropolitan areas.

Storms will start to impact the Northeast on Friday morning and last through Saturday.

Rain mixed with snow is expected throughout Washington, DC, New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston until Friday night and Saturday.

Sunday afternoon is expected to be clear. Major cities shouldn’t receive more than an inch of snow, but interior parts of the Northeast and Appalachians could receive 6 inches.

Cold temperatures will accompany this storm over the weekend in parts of the East. Many people will see lower high temperatures this week.

Atlanta reached 47 degrees on Saturday, down from 73 degrees on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Raleigh, North Carolina, reached 73 degrees, but will plunge through the weekend to the low 40s.

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Several Southern cities could experience temperatures below freezing this weekend, including Atlanta, Dallas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Sunday’s low will be in the teens in New York City, where the high will remain below freezing.

Northeasters won’t experience the cold as long as Mid westers and temperatures will begin to rise by early next week.

Minnesota has been below freezing since Monday and will not reach 32 degrees until next Monday.

Minnesota-Saint-Paul International Airport has already experienced the effects of winter weather, as snow and ice forced two ground stops Thursday.

First of a series of new storm systems will start to affect much of the West Coast Saturday as this storm moves offshore and precipitation wraps up.

Throughout the Rockies, snowfall and valley rain may be expected, with the storm moving into the Midwest and Great Lakes by Christmas. Monday could be wet and snowy in Chicago and Detroit.

Rain is expected from the Southern Plains to the Ohio River Valley Monday as this storm crosses the Great Lakes.

Northeasters can expect rain and snow. Rain is more likely in Massachusetts than Louisiana for Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve should see the second western storm move onshore. Wednesday and Thursday, it will move into the Intermountain West, bringing snow and valley rain across the West Coast.

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