Wednesday is the traditionally the busiest travel day of the year, but thanks to a classic nor'easter bearing down on the region it's also going to be one of the worst.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for northern Fairfield County for upward of 8 inches of snow in the Danbury area by Thanksgiving morning. Many area residents could be taking to the roads in the teeth of the storm.
The lowest gas prices in four years will fuel an increase in the number of vehicles on the road during this holiday period, said Fran Mayko, spokeswoman for the AAA of Southern New England.
This year, an estimated 46.3 million Americans -- 4.2 percent more than last year -- are expected to hit the road or fly the skies, making the Thanksgiving weekend one of the busiest travel periods of the year, according to the association's annual holiday survey.
Of the overall number, more than 89 percent -- or 41.3 million -- plan to travel more than 50 miles by motor vehicle. Air travel is also expected to be at its highest level since 2007 with 3.55 million Americans taking to the skies, Mayko said.
It's more important than ever, with the season's first significant expected snowfall today, to make sure that your vehicle is road worthy. Mayko, of AAA, recommends ensuring that the battery is properly charged and that the wipers are in good condition. Tires should be checked for signs of wear and to make sure the tire pressure is correct.
On Tuesday, motorists filling up in Stamford said they were happy about some of the lowest gas prices in memory this holiday weekend, echoing AAA's annual travel survey showing more people are expected to travel by car and plane this year, buoyed by lower fuel costs.
Mass transit might be an option for some people, but Joshua Crandall, director of the CleverCommute.com web site, said that also takes planning. "Timing is crucial,'' he said. "I'd advise anyone to avoid Grand Central Terminal or Penn Station after 1 p.m. We are expecting a surge of commuters during that window.''
Metro North will begin operating "early getaway trains'' at 1 p.m., increasing service out of Grand Central, but some evening trains may be combined or cancelled if ridership is low, officials said.
Additional trains will operate on Thursday, to bring riders into New York City for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and home again, and Friday will use the regular Saturday schedule with some additional trains for holiday shoppers, Metro North officials said.
Snowfall projected for Fairfield County by the National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., called for higher totals farther west from the shore. Forecasts for northern parts of the state called for more than a foot in some areas.
The latest projected snowfalls as of late Tuesday afternoon ranged from 3 to 5 inches for coastal Fairfield County between Bridgeport and Stamford, with totals of 6 to 8 inches expected in the Danbury area, according to David Stark, a meteorologist at the Upton weather station.
Any significant snowfall should be finished by 9 p.m. Wednesday, Stark said.
"We're getting closer than 24 hours, but there is still some uncertainty about how it is going to shape up," Stark said. "If it is slightly colder than expected in the coastal area, snowfall totals could be slightly higher."
Bridgeport public works crews spent Tuesday loading trucks with salt and sand, and attaching plows, determined to keep local streets passable throughout the holiday.
Some new technology will alsdao help the city with storm management, spokesman Brett Broesder said. Crews were testing new equipment added to the fleet, including GPS technology, Go Pro cameras and iPads in supervisor vehicles to better coordinate with dispatchers.
