Another reason to give thanks: The nasty storm’s behind us

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Story highlights

About 46 million people expected to travel for holiday, the most since 2007

East Coast travelers got hit by a mix of snow and rain

Travelers returning home should still check the forecast before departure

CNN  — 

It was a hellish holiday travel night Wednesday, with hundreds of flights canceled and thousands delayed by a punishing nor’easter.

But the silver lining for Thanksgiving Day? The storms are leaving and conditions should return to normal.

Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire will still see some snow. But New York will only get a dusting – and that’s good news for those lining up for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The weekend will be cold, very cold. But at least it’ll be dry. So, folks should be able to get home OK on Sunday.

Snarling travel

Airline passengers at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC,  in Virginia, arrive to snow showers on the busiest travel day of the year November 26, 2014. Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed Wednesday in the US northeast as a winter storm delivered freezing rain and snow ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the year's biggest travel weekends. A wintry mix was falling in Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Washington, according to the National Weather Service, which forecast "havoc" for travelers along the east coast from the Carolinas up through New England.    AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards        (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Winter storm snarls Thanksgiving travel
01:51 - Source: CNN

Contrast that (relatively) rosy outlook to conditions Wednesday.

The winter storm snarled travel across the East Coast, causing trouble on the nation’s roadways and delays of up to six hours at airports in the Northeast on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

10 ways to survive holiday travel

The Massachusetts State Police reported at least 100 spin outs across the state. Fortunately, most of the accidents were minor and didn’t result in injuries.

So far, airlines have canceled at least 164 flights for Wednesday, and that number is expected to increase, according to FlightAware.com.

“This is not a huge number of cancellations, but due to the holiday, flights will be more full, and there will be fewer available seats to accommodate displaced passengers from canceled flights,” FlightAware.com’s Daniel Baker wrote in an email.

Midwest affected, too

And the Northeast isn’t the only region where bad weather is predicted. Light snow is forecast from late Tuesday to Thursday in Minneapolis, Chicago and other parts of the Upper Midwest. The Northwest is expecting rain, with snow in the mountains. Denver is expecting wind gusts of up to 30 mph on Tuesday and 15 mph on Wednesday.

AAA is expecting 46 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving weekend, and 90% of them are traveling by car. That would be the most travelers since 2007, AAA said in a news release.

Drivers should check weather forecasts before setting out on the road “to ensure the safety of you and your family” and consider leaving earlier or later to avoid the storm, AAA advised. Travelers should also check tire pressure, car batteries and windshield wipers. Stock up on nonperishable food and emergency supplies in case you get stuck in the storm.

Winter weather tracker

On the bright side, people traveling by car will probably pay less for gas than in recent years, AAA says.

The current average price of gasoline in the United States is $2.85 per gallon, 43 cents per gallon lower than the average price at Thanksgiving 2013.

CNN’s Ralph Ellis, Faith Karimi and Greg Botelho contributed to this story.