A winter storm and mandatory aircraft software upgrades have impacted travel across the United States following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Weather System Impact
A winter storm system, originating in the central and northern Plains, expanded across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions over the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings and advisories extending from South Dakota into parts of Ohio.
As of Saturday, some areas had received up to 8 inches of snow since Thursday, with further accumulations of 6-12 inches anticipated. The NWS reported snowfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour, combined with gusty winds, contributing to reduced visibility and snow-covered roadways.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported investigating at least nine vehicle crashes in the central part of the state on Saturday morning. The Missouri Department of Transportation advised delaying travel in heavily impacted areas.
Concurrently, heavy rainfall and a risk of isolated flooding were forecast for parts of Texas and Louisiana.
Travel Disruptions
FlightAware data indicated over 800 cancellations and more than 500 delays at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Saturday. AAA had projected approximately 82 million individuals would travel at least 50 miles for the holiday, including 6 million by air.
Upcoming Weather Front
A new storm system is projected to form on Monday and affect the East Coast by Tuesday. This system is expected to bring heavy snow to the northern mid-Atlantic and New England regions, including Pennsylvania and Maine, and heavy rain to the Southeast. NWS meteorologist Andrew Orrison identified Monday as the most favorable day for holiday travelers returning home in these areas, noting that Tuesday would present more widespread rainfall impacts and accumulating snow further north.
Aircraft Software Mandate
Travel disruptions also coincided with mandatory software upgrades for Airbus A320 aircraft. Airbus advised airlines on Friday to implement immediate software upgrades to address a potential flight control issue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently issued an emergency directive on Friday night, requiring airlines operating A320s to complete the software upgrade by 12:01 a.m. Sunday before the aircraft could resume flight. American Airlines and United Airlines confirmed to NPR on Friday evening that they had initiated the upgrade process on affected aircraft to minimize operational delays.