To prepare for a vacation to San Francisco, Steven Lewis of Gloucester packed, headed to the airport — and thought about strategic parking.
The forecast in California called for highs in the 60s. But back home in Gloucester? The car would be left out in the rain, sleet and wind gusts.
“We're just going to enjoy it now, and when we come back, we'll see what we find,” Lewis said. I parked the cars so that if we have a big storm, the winds blow half of it off of my driveway, which is something special about living in Gloucester. The storm comes in pretty hard.”
People are braving the storm and ongoing concerns like COVID-19 to see family, friends and loved ones this holiday season. AAA estimates that nationwide 112.7 million people will travel 50 miles or more between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, a number nearing pre-pandemic highs.
Just before noon Thursday, Logan International Airport reported 81 delays and 37 cancellations for flights coming into and departing from Boston. And FlightAware reports 38 Friday flights have already been canceled.
The worst rain and wind of the storm is expected to arrive in New England Friday morning.
Casey Bulmer, who lives in Dorchester, sent her boyfriend a text asking him to move her deck furniture inside.
“I didn't realize there were going to be 50 mile an hour winds,” she said. “You never know what to expect.”
She was headed to Bluffton, South Carolina, to see her parents and sisters. On Thursday, she said she felt lucky to be leaving before the heavy wind started.
“I guess I predicted the right day,” she said.
Timothy Weaver was walking through Logan Airport with family when he got a news alert on his phone: Airlines were canceling flights, three days before Christmas, in preparation for rain, snow and cold Friday.
Weaver’s flight home to the Los Angeles area was still on, and he was on track to get home before Christmas.
“No storms and 75 degrees on Christmas Day,” he said.
