The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is anticipating its busiest holiday travel season ever for its airports, with more than 5 million passengers projected between Thursday, Dec. 21, and Jan. 2. International travel during that time is expected to be “especially robust,” the Port Authority said in a press release.
In all, the Port Authority is expecting roughly 14 million travelers to pass through its airports, bridges and tunnels in that time. Officials urge travelers to allocate additional travel time to accommodate any potential delays.
Here’s what you need to know about travel between Friday and Christmas Day on Monday.
The weather
Frigid temperatures on Friday and earlier Saturday — due to the presence of cooler air from Canada — are expected to rise and warm up by Christmas Eve, according to the National Weather Service.
Light, scattered showers are possible as early as Saturday night into midday Sunday. Snow is also possible on Saturday night in the lower Hudson Valley, parts of northeast New Jersey and areas of Connecticut away from the coastline, though no measurable levels of snow are expected.
There is currently no anticipated risk of roads icing overnight.
“Honestly, it’s fantastic weather to be traveling in,” said Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist with the agency.
High temperatures are expected to be near 50 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, Christmas Day — slightly warmer than the historical average of 42 degrees for the New York region.
Roads
The Port Authority is expecting vehicle traffic passing through its bridges and tunnels to reach pre-pandemic levels, roughly matching the 13-day holiday travel period in 2019. More than 8 million vehicles are expected to drive through.
There will be no lane closures outside of emergency construction between 5 a.m. on Saturday until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Work for the ongoing Sandy Repairs and Resiliency program at the Holland Tunnel will likewise be suspended. Officials strongly encourage…
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