Despite a massive storm system affecting the East Coast that caused delays and traffic jams, millions of Americans traveled in droves on Wednesday afternoon, the day before Thanksgiving, making it the biggest traveling day since the epidemic.

According to industry association Airlines for America, between the 17th and November 27, U.S. airlines are expected to carry about 29.9 million passengers. That number would represent an all-time high, up 1.7 million travelers from pre-COVID-19 levels and 9% higher than the previous year.

In accordance to the U.S. Transport Security Management, 2.6 million travelers were inspected at airport safety checkpoints on Tuesday, making it the busiest Tuesday ever for Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Wednesday was predicted to be considerably busier.

Though still less than the number recorded in 2019, prior to COVID, the American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that 55.4 million travelers will travel 50 miles (80 km) or more from home between Wednesday and Sunday. This is the third highest number since motorists group started tracking holiday travel in 2000, and it is up 2.3% from the previous year.
As inflation has decreased, travel has become more inexpensive because to lowering gas and flight costs. According to GasBuddy, gas costs have decreased by 15% since mid-September, while airfares for thanksgiving week were 14% less expensive, according to the travel website Hopper.

The National Weather Service reported that the storm that devastated much of the eastern United States on Tuesday with rain and strong winds was heading offshore on Wednesday. However, thunderstorms were still predicted for the Carolinas and other areas along the southern Atlantic coast.

A “white Thanksgiving” was predicted for some areas of New England, the website added, with some towns in New Hampshire waking up to as many as 6 inches (15 cm) of snow on Wednesday.
By Thursday, when thousands of Americans get together for the customary Thanksgiving lunch and watch football games on TV, the majority of the precipitation is predicted to clear.
Travel plans for Thanksgiving will probably be impacted by snowstorms in the north and center Rocky Mountain region and the nearby High Plans in the West.