Memorial Day storms cause travel delays as millions prepare to head home
A series of destructive storms across parts of the south and central United States could wash out Memorial Day plans and snarl millions of Americans' return trek home.
As of Monday afternoon, hundreds of flights had been delayed in the U.S., with dozens of others canceled, according to data on FlightAware.com. The Dallas-Fort Worth area, which has seen several rounds of thunderstorms and gusting winds over the weekend and into Monday, has been the most affected by those delays, the flight tracking site said.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines' largest hub, said it was expecting to serve about 1.4 million travelers over the holiday. Over the weekend, lines of hundreds of people deep snaked around the airport's terminals.
Delays also continued into Monday at Denver International Airport after thunderstorms caused a temporary ground stop on Sunday. Officials said a Southwest Airlines flight originating from Tampa, Florida, that landed in Denver on Sunday night may have been struck by lightning; no injuries were immediately reported.
This was also the first Memorial Day and major holiday travel weekend since the requirement that passengers have either a REAL ID or a passport for domestic flights went into effect earlier this month.
The storms on Sunday produced more than 180 severe weather reports, including six preliminary tornadoes in New Mexico and Texas. Extremely large hail, some up to 6 inches, was also reported near Afton, Texas, east of Lubbock.
Isolated severe weather threats are expected to continue from Texas through the Deep South and parts of Florida into Tuesday, according to forecasts.
Through Memorial Day, a severe thunderstorm watch was in effect for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Eleven million people were at risk to damaging winds and large hail across parts of Texas, including Abilene, Austin and San Antonio; Louisiana; and Alabama. There's also a continued chance of isolated tornadoes.
In addition, 12 million people remain under flood threats across the South into Tuesday morning, with the alerts stretching across the Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana regions.
NBC affiliate WESH reported that the potential for pop-up storms Monday across Florida, a popular holiday destination, could lead to ground stops late in the day at Orlando International Airport.
Officials said about a million people were expected to pass through the airport over the weekend, and the high volume could potentially lead to delays.
AAA expects a record 45.1 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home over this long holiday weekend. But most people — an estimated 38 million people, according to the association — are doing so by car.
And they're benefiting from gas averaging $3.18 per gallon — the lowest Memorial Day price in more than four years, AAA reported.
For the majority of the U.S., outdoor cookouts and travel plans home should remain on track.
Seasonal temperatures were anticipated across the Northeast with sun and clouds, while conditions were dry in the western third of the country.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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