(Newswire.net — November 27, 2014) — Beside Christmas, Thanksgiving Eve is one of the busiest days for airlines as millions travel across the US. Worst winter weather ever recorded for Thanksgiving has turned this year’s Thanksgiving Eve into a mess. United, American, and Delta airlines canceled its flights on Wednesday due to a heavy rain and snowstorm along the East Coast and Appalachians, leaving thousands of people in despair. Many passengers, however, have changed their flights and combine different routes to their destinations to avoid the storm.
According to Bloomberg, airlines had cancelled 271 flights due to winter weather. Not only terminated but delayed flights as well created a chaos on La Guardia International Airport.
“Ground stops for flights destined for Philadelphia, Newark and New York’s La Guardia International Airports already in effect due to weather,” AccuWeather reported just before 10 a.m. ET. “Flights destined for La Guardia are facing delays of more than three hours on average.”
According to the weather reports, as the day progresses the rain will change to snow from northern Virginia to New England where expected 6 to 12 inches of snow, though the heaviest snowfall is predicted for north and west of Interstate 95 from Philadelphia to Boston.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said the worst time for travel in the mid-Atlantic and New England due to the storm is Thanksgiving Eve.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported there has been 4 inches of snow in the North Carolina, and 8 inches in West Virginia.
Meanwhile, a less severe snowstorm brushed through the Plains and the Midwest, from the Dakotas to the Tennessee Valley.
As the snow works its way east, some flights out of St. Louis and highway travel on major interstates such as I-70, I-35, and I-29 will likely be delayed, officials said.
According to AAA The number of air passengers in the US is expected to hit a high level unseen since 2007, with as many as 3.55 million, a 3 percent jump from last year.