US braces for wintery storm blast at holidays

A winter storm system blamed for at least 10 fatal accidents in the central and western U.S. threatens to dampen the Thanksgiving holiday for millions of Americans traveling this week.

Nearly 300 American Airlines and American Eagle flights were canceled in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Monday due to the weather, spokeswoman Laura Masvidal said. Some of the country's busiest airports New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Boston could see big delays.

Icy roads led to hundreds of accidents and at least 10 deaths, half of them in Texas. As the storm continues east, there are fears of heavy rain along the busy I-95 highway corridor and sleet, freezing rain and snow away from the coast and at higher elevations.

Ninety percent of travelers this week will drive, according to the American Automobile Association, and an estimated 38.9 million people 1.6 percent fewer than last year are expected to drive 50 miles (80 kilometers) or more from their home.

Air travel will be busier and more expensive than usual this Thanksgiving.

This holiday will likely see the most air travelers since 2007, according to Airlines for America, the industry's trade and lobbying group, with the busiest day being Sunday, an estimated 2.56 million passengers. Wednesday is expected to be the second busiest with 2.42 million passengers.

The average domestic airfare is up 9.5 percent from last Thanksgiving to $313, according to the Airlines Reporting Corp., which processes tickets sold online and by traditional travel agencies.

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Mayerowitz reported from New York City. Associated Press writers Diana Heidgerd in Dallas and Jill Zeman in Little Rock contributed to this report.