Millions under holiday weekend weather threats

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Holiday travel is in full swing and millions of Americans are under severe weather threats ahead of the Fourth of July.

AAA projects more than 50 million people will hit the roads or the skies over the next few days, a record breaking number.

"So I'm traveling to Maine. It's been over two days and I still haven't seen Maine," said Abraham Camara, a traveler.

"This is certainly the craziest experience I've dealt with," said Ryan Ronco, a Sacramento resident

It's been a week full of travel headaches for Americans, with thousands of flight delays and cancellations due to severe weather and staffing shortages, and the Fourth of July weekend is shaping up to be more of the same.

Busiest travel weekend on record

"The Department of Transportation and the FAA are working closely with airlines to help minimize flight disruptions resulting from extreme weather," said Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary.

More than 100 million people face the risk of damaging winds, tornadoes or hail in the next 48 hours, and major airports from the south to the northeast could see disruptions.

The TSA expects to screen 17.7 million people during what's predicted to be the busiest travel weekend on record, according to AAA.

Flight delays

More than 2,500 flights had been delayed by Saturday afternoon.

"We're here about three hours early and then it was delayed 45 minutes," said one traveler.

There is a level 3 of 5 enhanced risk for severe storms for parts of several states.

By Sunday, the highest chance for severe storms stretches from western Kentucky to New Jersey.

"Then when we push forward into Sunday the bulk of that begins to spread into the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast but we also have more showers and thunderstorms across the Southeast," Allison Chinchar, CNN Meteorologist.

Meanwhile at least 20 record-high temperatures could be broken this weekend across California, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.