Thanksgiving Day 2013 Travel: It's Going to Be Wet and Windy

So here comes another Thanksgiving.

The busiest travel day of the year is Wednesday, and it’s time to pack up the car and go visit grandma, the crunch of brittle brown leaves underfoot.

This year, though, there's a high degree of difficulty. If you haven’t heard, the state is staring down both barrels of a major storm that will last Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. And when I say major, I mean rain, snow, wind … the works, depending on where you are.

According to Airlines for America, an estimated 2.56 million passengers are expected to fly on Wednesday, the most since 2007, and 38.9 million people are expected to drive 50 miles or more. In the heavily populated East, the megastorm means delays — and lots of them.

According to accuweather.com, a storm system that has been pummeling the southeast will merge with one over the Great Lakes to make our Wednesday a cold, wet and generally miserable one, complete with travel delays (especially if you’re flying). “Chaos” is how they put it in the accuweather headline.

In Connecticut, the fun gets started with some light-to-moderate precipitation Tuesday evening, followed by a 100% chance of rain and heavy winds later in the overnight hours, according to NBC-30. Some areas might see some snow mixed in with the rain.

On Wednesday, temperatures warm up into the 50s, but the entire day is expected to consist of near-armageddon-level rain and wind.

Some areas of the state might see total rain accumulations of up to 2 inches between Tuesday and Thursday, mixed in with some light snow at times, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS has issued wind and hazardous-weather advisories for Wednesday, with expected wind gusts of up to 43 miles per hour for most of the state.

On Thanksgiving Day, clearing is expected by daybreak, but the temperatures plummet into the upper-20s and low-30s and it’s going to be blustery. Perfect for some backyard football, but not-so-perfect for that idyllic crunchy-leaves effect.

Check out the full detailed forecast from the National Weather Service.

Here's Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's statement on the storm:

Governor Dannel P. Malloy today cautioned residents about a major coastal storm that will impact Connecticut beginning late tonight and lasting into Wednesday.

“The current forecast is calling for heavy rain, minor flooding, and high winds, so I want people to take common-sense precautions to secure their property and be aware of deteriorating conditions as the height of this storm approaches,” said Governor Malloy. “If you have travel plans tomorrow, please use caution on the roadways and give yourself some extra time to get your destination.”

Total rainfall is expected to range from 2 – 3 inches across the state, with a few locally higher amounts. Wind gusts are forecast to be sustained at 25 – 35 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH at times inland and 55 MPH at the coast.

The Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) will continue to monitor the storm’s progress and is ready to coordinate any response or assistance that may be necessary."

Are you traveling on the day before Thanksgiving? Are you taking any extra precautions because of the oncoming storm? Tell us in the comments below.