Siri Bryant, of Sammamish, Wash., gets into her car, still covered with a couple of feet of snow after being parked overnight in 2015. The holiday travel season is expected to cross paths with a giant winter storm across several states this week.
File photo | Associated Press
LIMA —With pandemic restrictions easing up and gas prices lower than they have been much of this year, airlines and highways are expected by experts to once again see near-record numbers of holiday travelers.
Director of Public Affairs at AAA Ohio Auto Club Kimberly Schwind said that, despite risky weather conditions, AAA is expecting almost 113 million people and more than 4.6 million Ohioans to travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.
“It’s an increase of 3.3% nationally and 2.6% in Ohio,” she said. “And it’s going to mark the third busiest year-end holiday travel period nationally. And for Ohio, we’re looking at the second busiest year-end holiday travel period, just behind the 2019 record that we set.”
And it is due in no small part to what the country has seen happen to gas prices following the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March.
According to gasbuddy.com, gas prices have fallen on average nationally by almost $2 since reaching over $5 in June.
Schwind said that the increased travel numbers will also be boosted by the fact that travelers are looking forward to getting back to their pre-pandemic traditions.
“It’s really that rebound in travel,” she said. “So we set a record for year-end holiday travel in 2019. And two, we continue to see travel rebounding. So if you are traveling, it’s going to be very reminiscent of those pre-pandemic days. It’s going to be very busy in the airports and on the roadways. And unfortunately this year we’re also dealing with winter weather that that’s going to impact travel, regardless of how you’re planning on traveling.”
AAA even sent out an alert on Tuesday the winter storm that weather forecasters are predicting to bring “treacherous travel conditions.”
The National Weather Service sent out a winter storm warning to begin at 7 p.m. today and last until 7 a.m. on Saturday for moderate to heavy snow totaling 2 to 4 inches in portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio.
“91% of Ohio travelers are planning holiday road trips,” said Schwind. “And the Friday before Christmas is expected to be one of the busiest travel days, both on the roadways in the air. And that’s exactly when that winter weather is going ahead.”
The National Weather Service is warning of slippery road conditions, areas of blowing snow reducing visibility and gusty winds.
AAA is advising travelers to prepare and adjust plans if necessary.
“We recommend that if you’re packing up your car, make sure that you are doing your due diligence to make sure your car is ready for that drive,” said Schwind. “So check your tires and make sure you have adequate pressure and tread depth. Check your battery because we expect a lot of dead batteries when the temperatures plummet after this winter storm and take a look at your windshield washer fluid, wipers and headlights. We are running low on time, but if you can, get your vehicle in for an inspection. And you might want to consider altering your travel plan to leave ahead of or after the storm to avoid driving in the worst winter weather.”
Schwind also said that while air travel might not make up as big of a percentage of the holiday travel, AAA still expects airports to be extremely busy with an increase of 14% over last year. But whether you are traveling by car or plane, Schwind said that the most important advice she could give is to be patient.
“There are a lot of people that are going to be traveling,” she said. “We’re dealing with a major winter storm. So it’s extremely important to be patient and to be prepared. Make sure that you have an emergency roadside kit with you in your trunk with extra clothes and blankets to stay warm, as well as flashlights, extra batteries, an ice scraper, a shovel, a first aid kit, safety reflectors, jumper cables, nonperishable food and a mobile phone charger to call for help.”
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
