ROCHESTER, N.Y. — We’re tracking strong winds, rain, and temperatures that will tumble to below freezing on Friday. So, will that combination impact flights during the holiday season travel rush?

News10NBC is tracking the latest from the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The board shows that all flights are expected to depart on time, as of 5 a.m. But that doesn’t mean that your connecting flight won’t be disrupted. Some larger airports are seeing delays due to strong winds and snow in the northwest and north central U.S.

About 31 million people are under strong wind alerts across more than half the country, the National Weather Service says. In addition, snow squalls across the Northern High Plains region could interrupt travel plans. Elizabeth Carey, the public relations director of AAA, says always be alert for weather interrupting travel plans.

“That’s always a possibility. Last weekend, for instance, New York City airports got hit with snow and it’s gnarled a lot of traffic for a lot of people. So sometimes that just happens and people have to be prepared for that.” Carey said.

Beth Steves, a travel adviser for AAA, says hope for the best but prepare for the worst while traveling.

“Keep as much as you can in your carry-on that way. You have access to it immediately. And then also make sure you have those contact numbers handy for the airlines,” Steves said.

So far, the TSA lines in Rochester are moving smoothly. AAA predicts that more than 8 million will travel by plane now through Jan. 1. That would break a record for winter holiday season air travel, with a 2% increase from last year. In total, AAA predicts that 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the holiday season.

AAA says holiday travel numbers have been growing since the pandemic because people have been prioritizing experiences with family. We spoke with one Rochester traveler, Jaisona Davidson, who is heading to Aruba with her family.

“It’s a whole different world, a different experience, so much peace. It’s definitely therapeutic to the mind, to the body, and the soul. Warm climates are where many are heading this season,” she said.

The Rochester airport expects about 8,600 travelers to arrive and depart each day for the next 10 days.

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