Severe storms across the southern and western United States have impacted travel plans during one of the busiest weekends of the year. On Friday at 1pm, over 3,500 flights had been delayed and 96 cancelled, according to FlightAware.

This follows a tumultuous Thursday, which saw 8,832 flights delayed and 791 cancelled due to powerful storms that produced tornadoes in Texas and Louisiana.

The risk of severe weather was expected to diminish on Friday, but meteorologists warned that conditions could worsen again on Saturday, with increased chances of hail, heavy rainfall, and tornadoes.

“We do have an increasing concern that there are going to be a lot of storms with a severe weather threat,” a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS), Evan Bentley said.

Louisiana and Alabama are identified as the states most at risk for severe weather this weekend.

The NWS has forecasted an “increasingly wet pattern” that will develop over the weekend, affecting the Lower Mississippi Valley and extending northeast into the Tennessee Valley, Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast.

Additionally, the Pacific Northwest is bracing for heavy rain and snow, prompting flood warnings for lower elevations in Oregon and Washington, along with winter storm warnings in mountainous regions across several states, including California and Colorado.

Travel disruptions come during what is expected to be the busiest holiday travel season in US history. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimates that nearly 40 million travellers will be screened at airports from December 19 to January 2, a 6.2% increase from last year. The three busiest travel days are projected on Friday and Monday.

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Despite the weather challenges, most holiday travel is occurring on the roads, with AAA reporting that 90% of trips will be made by car. Fortunately, above-average temperatures are expected to mitigate the risk of significant snow and ice on highways in many regions.

Officials have urged travellers, particularly in Texas and the South, to stay updated on changing weather conditions and to prepare emergency plans. “It’s crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions and heed the guidance of state and local officials,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said.