A 'coast-to-coast storm' could throw the holiday plans for millions of Americans into chaos as a record number of people travel this week for Thanksgiving. 

Meteorologists said the fast-moving system will impact travelers in the Southwest on Monday, before quickly affecting millions in the Midwest and then bringing a wintry blast to the Northeast on Wednesday.

On Monday, thunderstorms had already wreaked havoc on air travel out of Texas, where a morning ground delay at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport had canceled dozens of flights and delayed over 200 more.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms moved through the West on Sunday, with more downpours expected to snarl travel today in the Pacific Northwest and for more than a dozen states in the Plains, from Iowa to Texas.

AccuWeather's official holiday travel forecast for Monday has declared conditions 'poor' in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Cold air moving sown from Canada also threatens to bring a drop of several inches of snow throughout the northern US, including in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, this holiday travel week.

Even more states are expected to find themselves dealing with poor travel conditions for both flyers and drivers on Tuesday and Wednesday, further east.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has estimated that 81.8million people planned to travel more than 50 miles from their homes this week to celebrate Thanksgiving with family or friends, a new travel record.

AccuWeather meteorologist Reneé Duff said: 'The Pacific Northwest could face some of the most severe impacts from the weather in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.'

Tuesday will be the storm's busiest day as it spreads heavy rain, gusty winds, and even some thunderstorms across a huge stretch from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest, including poor travel conditions in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.

AccuWeather added that the worst headaches on Tuesday will bring soaking rain and strong wind gusts to the Midwest, and likely cause hundreds of flight delays at major hubs like Chicago O'Hare and St Louis Lambert, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport.

Farther south, cities like Memphis, Little Rock, Tulsa, and Dallas will still be dealing with rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms tomorrow, keeping roads slick and airports on alert for more ground delays.

In the north, a mix of rain and wet snow is expected across Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, threatening to make interstates like I-35, I-94, and I-69 treacherous for travelers who are driving.