Here's what we covered today
• America travels for the holiday: This year’s Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be the busiest in 15 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. If you’re flying, read some flight attendant-approved tips on surviving the trip, and here’s the Transportation Department’s advice on how to dress (spoiler: it’s time to ditch the pajamas) as part of its new “civility campaign.”
• A look at the forecast: A potent winter storm will impact travel for much of the northern tier of the US today and tomorrow. More than 10 million people from Montana to New York have winter alerts posted for the storm system.
• Expert advice: CNN correspondent Pete Muntean joined our live coverage with updates. He’ll be back tomorrow, You can read his reports under the CNN Guide tab.
Our live coverage of Thanksgiving Day travel has wrapped for the day. We’ll be back tomorrow. You can scroll through the posts below to learn about what happened Monday.
Things have not been too chaotic here at the DCA terminal 2 north checkpoint.
The TSA tells me staffing is good and that’s helping keep things moving.
But it stands the chance to be the smoothest part of the trip for travelers, with the FAA now warning of the possibility of a ground stop for flights bound for DCA.
That possibility exists until 10 p.m. ET, according to the FAA’s latest airspace operations plan.
See more about this huge travel week below.
This year’s Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be the busiest in 15 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. CNN's Pete Muntean reports on what to expect if you are traveling over the next couple of days.
2 tornadoes yesterday damaged more than 100 homes in Harris County, Texas, officials say
More than 100 homes were damaged yesterday after tornadoes ripped through Harris County, Texas, Constable Mark Herman said in a Facebook post.
No serious injuries or deaths have been reported after the storms, said Brian Murray, spokesperson for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The National Weather Service today confirmed two tornadoes struck the county, one in the Riata Ranch area, where winds reached 110 mph, and a second in the Klein area, with estimated winds of 116 mph. The tornadoes were about 20 minutes apart and were about 30 miles outside of Houston.
Severe storms developed in the Houston area, where warm temperatures were in place ahead of a cold front. An unstable atmosphere combined with wind shear produced supercell thunderstorms, which resulted in several tornado reports.
Read more about the damage caused in the area here.
Yes, the airports are very busy today.
Plus, a record number of people will hop in the car this week and drive at least 50 miles to get their turkey and stuffing.
AAA projects more than 81 million people are traveling this year and about 90% of them – 73 million people – are driving.
Tomorrow is expected to be the busiest pick-up day for rental cars, according to AAA and Hertz.
Here are the top Thanksgiving travel destinations, according to AAA
Thanksgiving is “is the single busiest holiday for travel compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4,” according to AAA.
This year, nearly 82 million are expected to travel by car, air, bus, train and cruises.
Take a look at the top destinations:
Domestic:
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Tampa, Florida
- New York, New York
- San Francisco, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Atlanta, Georgia
International:
- Paris, France
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Vienna, Austria
- Cancun, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Basel, Switzerland
- Sydney, Australia
- Barcelona, Spain
- Budapest, Hungary
- Oranjestad, Aruba
Soaring expenses put Thanksgiving travel out of reach for one Alaska family
When you live in Petersburg, Alaska, transportation can be challenging. Located on an island in the southeastern part of the state, Shelley Hjort, her husband and her two dogs have to either fly or take a ferry to leave.
All of which is pricey — and more money than Hjort said she has this year to be able to go see her family in Seattle for Thanksgiving.
A series of unforeseen life events drained Hjort’s savings, she said. Coupled with rising costs of everyday items like groceries, plus hotels and a rental car for her trip, going to Seattle was not something they could afford, she said.
Last November, Hjort’s husband had a “severe gallbladder attack,” and during the next several months, they had to make a total of four medical trips off the island. That cut into their savings, forcing them to rely on credit cards.
Hjort, who is a trauma registrar, has also been out of work. She left her job to care for her mother who died in July. Now, before she can return to her profession, she has to take classes to update her licensing, which have to be scheduled out months in advance.
Hjort’s brother and sister-in-law expressed understanding when she told them she wasn’t coming.
Here are some quick tips to make getting through security as easy as possible
No one likes getting an unnecessary pat-down at security, having your bag pulled to the side for a second check, or accidentally holding up the line because you don’t know the latest rules on what belongs in your bag and what doesn’t.
Here are some tips and tricks to make getting through security as quick and painless as possible.
- If it’s been a few months since you’ve been to an airport, you may have missed the ending of the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy. DHS rolled out a new policy in July allowing travelers to keep their shoes on when traveling out of domestic airports. No pre-check required. Leave your laces tied, and walk on through.
- Consider getting a Digital ID. More than 250 airports now accept a digital ID that can be set up in advance and downloaded to your phone’s wallet. Just make sure you have a physical compliant ID too in case they need to verify.
- Planning on dressing in style for the airport? Sean Duffy might appreciate it, but leave the sequins in your checked baggage. Shiny thread, beads or sequins can all set off security’s alarms, TSA shared today on X.
👋 Hi, Pete Muntean here.
The message from AAA is simple: Leave early or wait in traffic.
“Let’s say you have a five-hour road trip. It could easily become eight hours the later you leave. So you want to leave before lunchtime. The earlier, the better,” Aixa Diaz, AAA spokesperson told me.
Around 90% of Thanksgiving travelers are going to be driving, she said, making the roads extra crowded.
As everyone heads home, they could run into some of the worst traffic.
More people are taking long-distance buses this Thanksgiving, company says
More travelers are turning to buses to get them to their destination this Thanksgiving, according to the parent company of FlixBus and Greyhound.
As of yesterday, ticket sales for the holiday travel period were up more than 30% compared to the same time last year, Flix North America said in a statement to CNN.
The increase comes on the heels of a period of uncertainty around air travel. During the government shutdown the Federal Aviation Administration slowed air traffic, causing a cascading effect of flight delays and cancelations.
That uncertainty and with “affordability on the minds of many Americans this holiday season, people are looking for stress-free, cost-effective alternatives to flying,” the company said.
CNN’s Alexandra Skores contributed reporting to this post.
More than 5 million people could be impacted by a potent winter storm in Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions
We’ve got more information on a cold plunge now arriving in the Upper Midwest and northern Great Lakes regions.
The potent winter storm has activated winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings for more than 5 million people in the region, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, which could see up to 6 inches of snow beginning tonight.
The snow, combined with wind gusts of 45 mph, will create dangerous travel conditions in the region during the busy Thanksgiving travel rush.
Blizzard or near-blizzard conditions are possible at times from northeast South Dakota into parts of Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The price of gas this year is expected to be about what you paid last Thanksgiving, according to AAA.
The national average for regular unleaded was about $3.06 last year and today it is $3.055.
In California gas is about $4.61 a gallon and in Oklahoma it’s about $2.51.
Is that a turkey going through the TSA scanner? What you can — and can’t — bring through airport security
Flying is no excuse for not contributing to Thanksgiving dinner.
If you’re heading to the airport this holiday, the Transportation Security Administration allows a cornucopia of foods to sail through security checkpoints. That means it’s possible to pack a whole Thanksgiving feast in your carry-on.
The general rule is if the food is solid, you’ll be able to take it through. But if you can pour it, spray it or spread it, it falls under the liquids, aerosols and gels rule, so you’re limited to travel-sized, 3.4-ounce containers in a carry-on. Larger quantities need to go in a checked bag.
The TSA makes it clear that the final decision on what makes it through security and what doesn’t is up to the officers at your airport. That said, here are some of the guidelines for food outlined by the TSA:
- I’m in charge of the turkey this year: You’ve got options! Meat — cooked, fresh or frozen — can all be carried on. Just make sure that if you’re packing it with ice or ice packs, those are all fully frozen when you go through security. Anything that’s partially melted won’t be allowed.
- I only care about the sides: Many Thanksgiving sides are safe to bring through security. Pack the green bean casserole, the stuffing and the mac and cheese in your carry on, just, again, be mindful of ice packs.
- What about my secret-recipe pumpkin pie? Good news! You can carry on baked goods, including the homemade pie with a recipe that’s been in the family for generations and the humble grocery store cake (hey, no shame). Cookies, candy and other solid sweet treats are also fine.
- You can’t have Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce: True! But since both the homemade and canned varieties are spreadable, it’s best to put it in your checked bag. And yes, the same goes for the gravy.
- And the pre-dinner charcuterie board? Your cured meats like salami and prosciutto are safe to carry on. Stick with hard cheeses — cheddar, gouda, Manchego and the like — as creamy, spreadable cheeses may be limited to the 3.4-ounce rule. And don’t forget to pack your favorite accoutrements: Marcona almonds, dried figs and any kind of cracker are all good to go. Just check the honey.
- My family doesn’t do traditional Thanksgiving foods: Turkey is overrated, anyway. Check out the TSA’s thorough database of foods you can and can’t bring through security.
I’m still at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.
Foot traffic is definitely picking up at the Terminal 2 North TSA checkpoint. We’ve seen passengers both two-legged and four.
I’ve spoken to folks flying to Michigan, Texas and Atlanta — where delays have piled up today after a storm walloped Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and briefly shut down the control tower this morning.
About one in five flights bound for Atlanta have been delayed today, according to FlightAware.
Despite some wild weather, overall cancellation numbers have remained mild — though the Federal Aviation Administration is also warning of ground stops later here at Reagan National Airport, at the big three New York area airports and Philadelphia.
How early do you actually need to get to the airport?
Upon hearing that this is the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in 15 years, and with videos of endless TSA lines from the shutdown still fresh, anxious travelers might be budgeting extra time for themselves at the airport. But security wait times are surprisingly low so far today.
Some of the country’s largest airports keep track of security lines in real time. Here’s what they’re seeing as of 2:15 p.m. ET:
- Despite hundreds of delays today, the country’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, is reporting wait times of less than 10 minutes at all of their terminals.
- According to Denver International Airport’s real-time tracker, security lines are also under 10 minutes.
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport estimated wait times under 10 minutes as well as of midday — though they are recommending budgeting up to 90 extra minutes to account for traffic en route to the airport.
- Airports seeing slightly longer wait times include New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where terminal estimates are ranging from 20 to 30 minutes.
Wait times may, of course, increase as the busy travel day continues, and not all airports provide real-time estimates. When in doubt, TSA recommends checking in with your airline about when to arrive at the airport, and United, Delta and American all advise arriving at least two hours early for domestic flights.
Thanksgiving Day Parade spectators in NYC should layer up as cold front heads east, NOAA forecasts
Travelers navigating the roads and the skies ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday today should prepare for rain showers in Southern cities like Atlanta and Charlotte, as a cold front advances toward the US East Coast, according to NOAA’s holiday forecast.
Snow showers accompanied by gusty winds await travelers at major Midwest airports like Chicago and Detroit today, and anyone traveling across the Upper Plains will be battling winds gusting upwards of 50 mph at times, NOAA says.
On Thanksgiving Day, rain is forecast to exit New York City in time for the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, “but spectators may want extra layers, with wind chills in the 20s at parade time,” according to the agency.
That same gusty wind will allow lake-effect snow to form downwind of Lakes Superior, Erie and Ontario, leading to pockets of reduced visibility on the roads. In the Pacific Northwest, rain is likely, with snow in the higher elevations of the northern Rockies, according to NOAA.
New tornado watch issued in Alabama, Mississippi as storms disrupt southern travelers
Storms in the South have already created travel headaches today, and the threat of severe thunderstorms is intensifying.
A tornado watch has been issued until 7 p.m. ET for nearly 2 million people in central and southern Alabama and a small part of southeast Mississippi. The watch includes Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama.
There is a moderate chance of two or more tornadoes in the watch area. Storms that turn severe could also produce quarter-size hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Showers and storms are also impacting highways from southeast Louisiana to parts of Georgia and the Carolinas this afternoon. Conditions will improve tomorrow as the cold front responsible for the stormy weather marches east.
Here’s my favorite cliché for today: Pack your patience!
More flights are expected to take off today than on any other this holiday. The Federal Aviation Administration expects 52,000 flights.
The next busiest day will be Sunday, when everyone heads back home.
The Transportation Security Administration also says this holiday travel season will likely set records for the number of passengers.
By the numbers: Nearly 18 million people will go through TSA checkpoints from today through next Tuesday. More than 3 million will go through on Sunday alone, which could be a record.
Eight of the top 10 busiest travel days for passengers have happened in 2025, and the average number of people screened is up about 14,000 travelers a day from last year.
Louisiana family reimagines Thanksgiving in face of higher grocery costs
A Louisiana resident told CNN that Thanksgiving for her family is looking quite different this year.
Kelly, who asked that her full name not be disclosed, lives in the city of Mandeville and has been unemployed for over a year. She used to make a six-figure salary before being laid off, she said, and now her family relies on just her husband’s income.
She has been cutting back on groceries because of rising costs.
“Unfortunately, the less income we have, it seems prices keep going up,” she said.
Kelly said she usually spends between $250 to $300 on a Thanksgiving meal, however, this year she spent $125 for her family of five.
Kelly said she usually recreates the meal her mother used to make for the family, which includes a whole turkey and homemade sides that require fresh ingredients. She said for their at-home dinner this year, she was planning to just make turkey breast — but she was able to get a last-minute deal on 12 pounds of turkey yesterday. Kelly said their meal will also include boxed stuffing, some veggies, a pie and homemade macaroni and cheese.
Explore how grocery costs have changed since the beginning of the year:
Meanwhile, Gobble and Waddle the turkeys receive pardons at the White House
President Donald Trump pardoned turkeys Gobble and Waddle at the White House today.
Hatched last July in North Carolina, Gobble and Waddle weigh in at 52 and 50 pounds, respectively, and rode the gravy train to Washington. They spent their young lives training for their pardon, getting acclimated to loud sounds, big crowds and bright lights ahead of a luxe stay in a suite at the nearby Willard InterContinental Hotel.
Now, they will go to North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh to live out a relieved retirement.
See the moment:
DEK: President Trump pardoned turkeys Gobble and Waddle ahead of Thanksgiving at the White House.
Turkey pardons have gone back decades. You can read about its storied history throughout administrations here.
What to do if your flight gets canceled
Flight delays and cancellations can be stressful, especially around the holidays — but knowing your rights can help.
CNN’s Barry Neild explains what airlines are required to do, how to claim refunds and the best ways to stay ahead of potential disruptions.
