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NEW YORK, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- A moisture- and wind-packed storm officials blamed for at least a dozen deaths last week threatened to disrupt holiday travel in the eastern United States. The arctic storm even threatened to ground the Macy's parade's trademark balloons in New York.
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The massive storm that stretched across more than 20 states Tuesday backed up air traffic, throwing more than 6,000 flights off schedule Tuesday and forced at least 95 flight cancellations early Wednesday, CNN reported.
Forecasters say New York and Washington should brace for wintry weather early Wednesday, possibly a nor'easter, with bone-chilling driving winds that are cold and wet.
"Let's face it: With 80 percent of our airplanes touching the congested Northeast, we're acutely aware that things can go wrong relatively quickly," JetBlue Chief Operating Officer told WCBS, New York.
For those traveling on the rails, Amtrak reported no delays so far.
Weather forecasters say driving conditions likely won't be great along the coastal regions in the Northeast.
AAA estimates more than 43 million people will travel for this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Eve generally is considered one of the busiest travel days of the year.
Last week, 12 people died when one of the storm fronts in the current storm slicked roads from the Rockies to Texas and Oklahoma.
The eastern United States was getting thumped by a storm that brought snow, sleet and heavy rains northward, AccuWeather.com reported. A foot of snow was expected in some areas.
Flooding was a concern along the Interstate-95 corridor from Richmond, Va., to Philadelphia and into parts of New England, AccuWeather.com said. Sleet and an icy mix could pose problems across the interior Northeast.
Some of the most dangerous travel conditions Wednesday will be in New England, which will be pummeled with heavy rains and gusty winds, AccuWeather.com forecasters said.
Early Wednesday, flash flooding was reported on the Bronx River Parkway in New York, closing the southbound lanes, AccuWeather.com said. Wind gusts up to 47 mph were reported at Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Some of the strongest winds were forecast Wednesday from Providence, R.I., to Boston, where a high-wind warning was in effect for gusts to 60 mph.
"Damage to trees, power lines and property is possible with wind of this magnitude," the National Weather Service said. "Power outages are likely."
Sustained winds of 30 mph were expected in New York with gusts to 45 mph, NWS said.
A flood watch was issued for parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the weather service said.
The storm is expected to ease late Wednesday, with Thanksgiving Day expected to be dry in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic states.
But winds are forecast to remain at 20 mph in New York City, with gusts to 36 mph, prompting organizers of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to consider grounding its famous balloons for the first time since 1971.
The parade does not loft its balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts exceed 34 mph.
The rules were put into place after high winds in 1997 pushed a Cat in the Hat balloon into a lamppost, causing part of the lamp to fall, fracturing the skull of a woman spectator, leaving her in a coma for a month.
The same high winds that year caused the New York City Police Department to stab and stomp down the Barney and Pink Panther balloons over concerns they could get blown into crowds.
