As travelers prepare for the unofficial start of the summer, airlines across the United States are preparing for storms throughout Memorial Day Weekend that could impact thousands of flights.
According to Weather.com, the constant string of severe thunderstorms and flooding rain continued Thursday and will run through at least early next week in the Plains and Midwest, as well as the Northeast starting Thursday and throughout the holiday weekend.
Siege of #severe thunderstorms, #tornadoes and flash #flooding will continue into next week: https://t.co/SYyp7HCUwJ pic.twitter.com/949Qm4xC0e
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 23, 2019
Over 450 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were canceled Thursday and another 2,900-plus have been delayed, according to FlightAware.com. Airports most impacted by Thursday’s storms include Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia International, LaGuardia and more in the Northeast.
More storms and possible record heat are expected this Memorial Day weekend – latest forecast here: https://t.co/6mAa4cuGNK pic.twitter.com/lnLdmTiQCM
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 23, 2019
While airlines have not started issuing travel advisories or waiving change fees, the severe thunderstorms are expected to reach from west Texas to the upper Midwest Friday. Then on Saturday, scattered severe thunderstorms will flare up in the southern and central Plains, as well as parts of the Ohio Valley, Lower Great Lakes and Northeast.
The heat wave in the Southeast this Memorial Day weekend may smash May temperature records: https://t.co/JOqj5MIIEe pic.twitter.com/a6t0M20QQL
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) May 23, 2019
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center also shared the potential for severe weather threats Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in the storm- and flood-beleaguered portions of the Plains and Midwest.
Stay tuned to TravelPulse for further updates as the storm continues to impact travel.