Massive cross-country storm throws post-Thanksgiving travel into chaos with more than 2,500 flights delayed: Millions of Americans could see the COLDEST air of the season as deep freeze moves across the US

Severe winter weather could wreak havoc across the country on Monday, causing flight delays and poor driving conditions for post-Thanksgiving travelers.

A coastal storm moving along the Northeast coast is forecast to bring rain and snow that could delay travel and the Great Lakes may experience lake-effect snow for several days, according to AccuWeather.

From Monday afternoon Flight conscious reported 2,526 flight delays in, to or from the United States and 34 cancellations in total.

Data shows the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day, but AAA says Monday is also a popular day for vacationers.

TSA screened a record 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, as well as 2.6 million passengers on Saturday and 2.2 million on Friday.

Here’s what Monday’s forecast looks like:

Lake effect snowfall over the Great Lakes

A movement of cold air over the warmer Great Lakes is forecast to create lake-effect snow in certain areas south of Lake Superior and east of Lake Michigan, reports the National Weather Service.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is forecast to receive four to six inches of snow, with five to four inches of snow possible east of Lake Michigan across Michigan’s western Lower Peninsula.

By late Monday through Tuesday, the heaviest bands of snow are expected to move downwind to the east of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, possibly reaching 12 to 20 inches of snow and more than two feet in some areas snow.

“Lake effect snow is expected to reach peak intensity across the entire Great Lakes Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Jake Sojda.

“The temperature difference between the bitter cold blowing across the still ‘warm’ lake water could cause heavy snow to extend further than normal, even into eastern New England, early in the week.”

Sojda said, “Travel in the heaviest snow areas, especially in New York, could become nearly impossible after dark Monday as gusty winds combine with snowfall rates of several inches per hour to create blizzard-like conditions.”

Northeast coastal storm and cold front

A coastal storm moving along the northeast coast will bring much-needed wet weather to some areas, but could also bring cold and snow over the next week.

“This coastal storm is expected to flood towns along Interstate 95 from Eastern Virginia to Maine through Monday,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

As the weather moves northeast, the heaviest rain is expected to hit coasts as far away as Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts.

A cold front is forecast to bring significantly lower temperatures across the country on Tuesday.

High temperatures are expected in the 30s and 40s for New England, the Mid-Atlantic and even the Carolinas on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the 50s for the Southeast and the Gulf Coast as far north as Florida. Frigid high temperatures in the 20s and 30s are forecast for the Great Lakes and the Midwest.

Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s and 40s across the Central Plains through the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. The high is forecast to be in the 50s for Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Coastal showers in California

A Pacific weather system moving toward California’s northern and central coasts could bring some rain showers later Tuesday, the National Weather Service forecast.

Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are forecast to be in the 50s, with 60 degrees south into California and 70 degrees in the desert Southwest.

San Diego International Airport expects to receive more than 80,000 travelers during the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving.

The airport said, “The following Sunday and Monday are historically the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday week.”