ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Severe weather is in the forecast for the St. Louis area Tuesday evening with strong to severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and isolated tornados possible.
Forecasters say two storms tracking across the country are packing a miserable mix of rain, snow, and wind from coast to coast.
The first storm is expected to dump a foot of snow from Colorado to Michigan and into the east on Wednesday. There will be delays at Denver’s airport for sure. Seven inches of snow fell Tuesday morning at Denver International Airport and the forecast calls for another 3 to 6 inches the rest of the day.
As that front moves through the Great Lakes and the Northeast later in the week, forecasters say another storm will crash into the West Coast, possibly fouling flights and making driving treacherous.The AAA auto club says more than 55 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over Thanksgiving, and the Transportation Safety Administration is predicting record numbers at airports.
2020 Holiday Travel Hacks
· Save Electricity. Remember to unplug electronics and appliances that will sit idle while you’re away, like a computer, toaster or coffeemaker. To save money and energy, adjust the furnace thermostat. You want to make sure your home is warm enough to prevent the pipes from freezing if there’s a big drop in the temperature, but not so warm that you’re spending money on heat when no one is home.
· Give Your Mail a Vacation, Too. It’s always a good idea to have a friend or family member pick up your mail while you’re away, especially if your mailbox is accessible from the street. Or, you can contact the post office and have your mail held until your return. Delivery services, like FedEx and UPS, will also hold packages that arrive while you’re away. Check with each company about its policy for vacation holds.
· Unplug to Better Engage. Reevaluate which electronic devices you really need and which ones you can leave home. Bringing fewer gadgets can help you be more engaged on your trip developing memorable experiences, especially if you’re visiting a place you haven’t been before. You want to be able to focus on your destination and on your travel companions with as few distractions as possible.
· Prepare Your Carry-On. When it comes to packing other items for a flight, bring in your carry-on an extra shirt, change of underwear, swimsuit if you’re taking a beach vacation or your hotel has a pool, a toothbrush and needed prescription medications in case your checked luggage gets separated from you.
· Consider the Environment. Be a “green” traveler this year and save trees — and paper — by putting your boarding pass on your mobile device. Make sure your device is fully charged. Other ways to plan an environmentally conscious trip include taking a shuttle or public transportation to the airport. You can also save money and reduce the amount of plastic you use by traveling with a reusable water bottle. Just be sure to empty it before you go through airport security.
· Inform Your Bank. Remember to contact your credit card company and bank to let them know when and where you’ll be on vacation. It alerts them to unusual purchases from faraway places. You don’t want to have a credit or debit card declined due to a security precaution.
· Prepare for Your Return. Finally, while it may seem strange to plan for your return home when you haven’t even left yet, think about ways that you can make things as relaxing as possible after you step in the door at the end of a long journey. For example, prepare a quick and easy dinner beforehand that you can put in the freezer before you leave.