(NewsNation) — More than 46 million people across the northern United States are under winter weather alerts as two storm systems threaten to disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel.

Heavy snow has already dropped up to two feet in some areas, with gusts up to 50 miles per hour creating whiteout conditions. As of Saturday morning, more than 2,700 flights were delayed nationwide, according to FlightAware, with more disruptions expected through the weekend.

Forecasters say travelers across multiple regions will see heavy snow, gusty winds, rain and pockets of freezing rain, making roads slick and slowing air traffic. However, conditions are expected to improve by Monday morning’s commute.

AAA projects a record 81.8 million Americans are traveling this holiday week, including 6 million flyers, 73 million drivers, and about 2.5 million using trains, buses or cruises.
This is the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record.

Saturday is expected to be a high-impact weather day with snow, rain and wind affecting travel routes across multiple regions. Sunday is expected to be the busiest air travel day of the holiday weekend, with rain along the East Coast likely to add to delays. Monday should see a widespread improvement in flight operations as the storm moves out and conditions settle.

Airports like Newark Liberty International are urging passengers to arrive early and check flight statuses frequently as weather delays continue. Meanwhile, air traffic controllers and airlines are already bracing for a nationwide surge in passengers. With storm impacts stretching from the Midwest to the Northeast, even a backup in one major hub can trigger delays thousands of miles away.