Windy conditions are in the forecast, and the Thanksgiving travel rush is underway. D.C., Maryland and Virginia residents are rushing to visit relatives in near and far corners of the United States. AAA estimates over 1.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more away from their homes in the D.C. area this Thanksgiving.
Most of those travelers are expected to drive to their destinations. The best way to beat traffic, AAA says, is to avoid leaving on Wednesday and plan to depart on Tuesday or early Thursday.
“Either leave late on Wednesday night or even better get up super early on Thanksgiving morning and hit the road 6 a.m., 7 a.m.,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. “The roads are much clearer on Thanksgiving Day itself and you'll make it there in time for turkey."
The worst time to travel on the roads is Wednesday between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to AAA. The best times to leave is Wednesday before 11 a.m. and Thanksgiving before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
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Airports are expected to be busiest on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the holiday. There were long lines at Reagan National Airport as of 6 a.m. the day before Thanksgiving.
Rain, including heavy rain at times, affected Thanksgiving travel Tuesday into early Wednesday. The good news is that Wednesday's weather will be much easier for travelers. Though, winds pick up midday with gusts up to 30 mph.
"If you can put it off and not drive [Tuesday] evening, your life will be a lot more pleasant, even with an early alarm tomorrow," Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Mike Whitaker said at a press conference Monday they are working to make sure flyers get to their destinations. They plan to implement the Holiday Airspace Release Program, which allocates additional airspace to commercial flights along the East Coast, Whitaker said.
“The skies will be extremely busy this Thanksgiving period – eclipsing last year. We are expecting 49,600 flights on Wednesday,” @FAA_Mike tweeted. “The FAA will be working around the clock to make sure passengers get to their destinations safely.”
Thanksgiving travel weather forecast
Heavy rain soaked the area Tuesday just in time for the Thanksgiving travel rush, Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said. About 1 to 2 inches of rain was expected to fall between 4 p.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Wednesday.
Drivers and flyers were warned to prepare for delays. The rain impacted nearly every area east of the Mississippi River, according to Bell.
“I’m cautiously optimistic the rain will be ending relatively early on Wednesday morning. So, Wednesday afternoon and evening travelers the later you’re leaving in the day Wednesday, the less likely you are going to have anything in the way of a rain chance,” Bell said.
The sun will return Wednesday afternoon with temps in the low-50s. It will be a windy day in the D.C. area with gusts near 40 mph. Lingering flight delays from the Tuesday storm are possible, Bell said.
Thanksgiving Day will be cool, sunny and breezy at times. It will be perfect weather for family gatherings.
Weather radar
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Thanksgiving traffic in Virginia
In Virginia, many highway work zones will be suspended and lane closures on most major roads will be lifted starting noon on Wednesday, Nov. 22 until noon on Monday, Nov. 27, according to a release from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Heavy traffic is likely Tuesday mid-morning to evening and throughout the day on Wednesday and Sunday, VDOT said. Roads near shopping destinations are expected to experience congestion on Saturday.
On Thanksgiving Day, rush-hour tolls will be lifted on Interstate 66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway. For more lane directional schedules visit here.
You can watch Virginia's traffic cameras here.
VDOT has an interactive travel-trends map so you can check peak congestion periods on specific Virginia interstates. You can also download VDOT's free mobile 511 app to get information on construction, traffic and congestion.
Flying out of one of Virginia's airports? Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport require parking reservations to be made at least 12 hours in advance.
Thanksgiving traffic in Maryland
In Maryland, lane closures on non-emergency roadwork will be suspended from 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, to 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, according to a release from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT).
Congestion is expected between Tuesday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 26, MDOT said. Drivers are encouraged to travel during off-peak times and use public transportation when going Black Friday shopping.
Light traffic is expected for Thanksgiving, Friday and Saturday, MDOT said.
Those flying out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport should arrive early to allow time for parking, checking in and moving through security. If you're driving, check the status of parking lots ahead of time so you don't waste time looking for a spot.
Departing passenger traffic in October at the airport increased nearly 8% since the same month last year, according to MDOT. More passengers are expected to fly out of the airport over Thanksgiving.
MDOT has live traffic cameras that show real-time roadway conditions so you can check traffic before driving on Maryland highways. You can sign up for travel alerts and updates at Maryland's 511 page.
