Weather and Political Storms Ahead: Holiday Travel Chaos Expected

Millions of people are getting ready to hit the roads and skies for winter break, despite looming storms and a possible government shutdown. Jimmy Pham, a UC Berkeley student, is flying to San Diego and isn’t too worried about minor delays. However, he’s keeping an eye on the weather for a future snowboarding trip. The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts a record-breaking 119. 3 million travelers this holiday season. That's a jump of over 64, 000 people since 2019. In California alone, around 16 million people are expected to travel. Most will be driving, but 1. 4 million are taking flights and the rest using other modes. Weather is a big concern, with storms forecast for the Bay Area all the way through next week. Joe Merchant, a meteorologist, warns about heavy rain and wind on Tuesday, which could cause flooding and flight delays. AAA suggests Saturday morning and early afternoon as good travel times, with Monday morning also being decent. Vicki Sansen, from Pleasanton, is flying to Idaho and isn’t worried about delays or storms. She has factored in extra time for potential issues. Airports like San Francisco International (SFO) and San Jose Mineta International are expecting high passenger numbers, with SFO projected to handle over 6. 3 million between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Government shutdowns might cause minimal disruption since essential workers, like TSA agents, will still work, albeit unpaid. During the 2018 shutdown, some TSA agents didn't show up, causing longer lines. Airports advise travelers to arrive early and check their flight status often.