BWI bustling on busiest travel day of Christmas season

BWI airport was busy Wednesday morning amid one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Nearly 2.2 million Marylanders are expected to travel this holiday season — which would represent a new record, despite being the smallest annual growth rate since 2011, according to a new report from AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The report, released this month, attributes the numbers to low gas prices and an improving economy, as well as back-to-back three-day weekends, with Christmas and New Year's Day falling on Fridays.

More than 100 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, up 1.4 percent from last year according to the AAA estimates, put together by consulting firm IHS Global Insight based on economic data and surveys.

The firm is predicting a seventh consecutive year of increases for Maryland and the nation.

Weather forecasts for the week of Christmas call for unseasonably warm temperatures. Highs could reach the 70s on Thursday.

Wednesday's morning commute saw dense fog and some rain as travelers took to the highways in the area.

All school systems in the Baltimore area will be closed starting Thursday for winter break, breaking a decrease in the daily travel congestion just after the holiday commute spikes.