(NewsNation) — Tens of millions of Americans were under winter weather alerts Monday morning as they headed home from their holiday trips. Storms have swept coast to coast, bringing everything from blizzard conditions and ice to heavy rain and even tornado threats — creating disruptions for travelers.
One of the busiest travel periods of the year, AAA has projected record-breaking travel, with 122.4 million Americans expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day, year-end holiday period, beginning Dec. 20 and ending Jan. 1. This year’s forecast represents a 2.2% increase from 2024.
With many now heading home from their holiday trips, airports and highways nationwide are packed, and severe winter weather is adding to the stress.
Snowstorms and high winds are disrupting travel nationwide. Snow, ice and strong winds are making it more difficult for over 109 million drivers and 8 million airline passengers to reach their destinations.
As of Monday afternoon, flight tracking site FlightAware reported more than 4,000 flight delays and 600 cancellations. On Sunday, more than 5,000 flights were delayed and over 500 were canceled nationwide as storms moved through major travel corridors.
Blizzard conditions grip the Midwest, Northeast
The Midwest was hit especially hard. Blizzard conditions swept through the region, causing hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations at major flight hubs, including Minneapolis-St. Paul. Parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin remained under blizzard warnings Monday morning, with wind gusts over 40 miles per hour and snowfall totals reaching up to 8 inches in some areas.
Many cities across the region have declared snow emergencies, and power outages have blacked out parts of Wisconsin.
Further east, portions of the Northeast were dealing with snow and freezing rain. Severe weather also triggered tornado warnings Sunday in parts of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.
Airlines and airports are urging travelers to check their flight status frequently, allow extra travel time and have a backup plan as dangerous winter weather continues into Monday.