Labor Day travel: Will extreme weather impact holiday in US this weekend?

The unofficial end to summer is upon us, and millions of people across the US have packed up and are headed out of town for the Labor Day holiday weekend.

But travelers beware – severe weather could put the brakes on some of those trips back home.

Data from AAA shows an increase in domestic travel over the Labor Day holiday weekend this year, so if you’re among those hoping to hit the beach, explore the great outdoors at a national park or attend a local event on Sunday, you’ll want to have the free FOX Weather app handy for the most up-to-date forecast information in your location.

Labor Day weekend weather: Sunday forecast

Travel issues could arise from areas of Texas to the Northeast and New England on Sunday, but the FOX Forecast Center doesn’t expect major storm systems to be impacting those regions.

Severe weather, however, is a concern for millions in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed more than 67 million people in those areas in a Level 1 out of 5 risk on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.

Either way, airports from the Midwest to the Northeast could be impacted by showers and thunderstorms, which could lead to issues.

Meanwhile, storms will linger across the Carolinas and Georgia beaches.

And remember, if you’re at an airport where the sky is clear and temperatures are warm, extreme weather hundreds of miles away can still impact your travel plans.

“The crazy thing about Atlanta is that the airport is so big, that when they get delays there, it will affect almost the entire country, especially the East Coast,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari said.

Labor Day Weekend weather: Monday forecast

And what about the dreaded trip back home to reality? There will be more chances for delays on the roads or in the sky thanks to additional rain and thunderstorms impacting portions of the Southwest, Southeast and mid-Atlantic.

Labor Day weekend airport delays

If you’re opting to fly to your favorite Labor Day holiday destination rather than drive, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the weather at both your departure airport and the weather at the airport you arrive at.

The graphic above shows the current US airport delays, with a green icon indicating no delays, a yellow icon indicating some delays and a red icon for major delays.