SALT LAKE CITY — "There they are!" Pharyn Leonard said excitedly.

Before their parents reached the bottom of the escalator leading to the baggage claim area at the Salt Lake City International Airport Sunday, Pharyn and her sister Kayla were running toward them, eventually greeting them with long hugs and big smiles.

Hugs and smiles were a common scene at the airport this weekend as many got an early start on their Thanksgiving travel.

In the air and on the roads, industry experts are predicting a busy week for travelers this holiday week.

But with recent events in Paris and a winter storm expected to hit Utah on Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year, American Automobile Association officials are also reminding travelers to plan ahead.

3 million travelers

Experts at AAA are expecting the highest number of Mountain West residents to hit the road during this four-day holiday weekend since 2007, based on their latest travel survey. More than 3 million people from Utah and the Mountain West are expected to travel 50 miles or more this week to celebrate Thanksgiving.

An estimated 2.9 million of those will get to their destination by driving, according to the AAA. Another 240,000 will fly, a 2.5 percent increase from 2014.

"Nationally, AAA forecasts that more than 47 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the four-day weekend, a 0.6 percent increase compared to last year's travel statistics," said AAA spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough.

The Leonard sisters were at the airport Sunday waiting for their mother and father who were flying in from Georgia. The Leonard family is originally from South Africa before moving to the United States 12 years ago. About a year ago, Pharyn and Kayla moved to Utah County to go to college.

We love traveling. Our family travels everywhere. We travel every opportunity we get," Pharyn Leonard said. "It's a fun experience."

Ryelle Ericksen is also a seasoned traveler. She was sitting on several large bags at the airport waiting for her husband to arrive. Ericksen, from Utah, is a member of the Utah Army National Guard. She flew back to Utah from Nashville on Sunday after a month-and-a-half of training to have a special Thanksgiving meal with her family that night.

On Monday, she and her husband, who is an active duty member of the U.S. Army and based in Ft. Hood, Texas, will head right back to the airport to fly to Georgia to have Thanksgiving with his family.

"Traveling isn't too bad. I travel a lot. During the holidays it's a lot busier so it's a little more inconvenient. But I'm definitely looking forward to being there, spending time with family and eating good food," she said. "It's been awhile since I've seen my husband's family so we're excited to go out there."

Those traveling on the freeways for Thanksgiving are cautioned to give themselves plenty of time, and to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts and adjust their travel plans if necessary.

Winter storm

KSL meteorologists are forecasting the next winter storm to arrive in Utah on Wednesday and it could last through Thursday morning. The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement, noting that Wednesday's storm "could cause significant travel impacts across much of Utah. If your travel plans are flexible, consider traveling Tuesday ahead of the storm."

Strong, gusty winds will develop on Tuesday, especially in southwest Utah, according to the National Weather Service. Winter weather will "bring travel impacts across much of the region, including the I-15 corridor and I-80 east into Wyoming" on Wednesday and Thursday.

Likewise, the National Weather Service forecasted for Pocatello and eastern Idaho: "Rain and snow will begin in the central mountains Tuesday, then spread across the rest of eastern Idaho early Wednesday. Rain will quickly change to snow Tuesday night as much colder air settles in behind a cold front."

Those traveling west should except the storm to impact northwest Nevada by Tuesday. The National Weather Service is also predicting a "significant winter storm" for northern and western Wyoming.

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