Long lines. Delays. Profound discomfort. All essential components of the Thanksgiving travel rush, as unwelcome yet reliable as death and taxes.

This year, homebound Harvard students will contend with these and yet another adversary—a potentially paralyzing snowstorm.

The National Weather Service has predicted a winter storm for Boston and much of New England, to arrive at 5 a.m. and drop four to eight inches of snow on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

The coastal storm is expected to hit southern New England hardest, dumping snow and sleet on Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, while northern New England is expected to escape with only rain. The heaviest precipitation will fall between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., tapering off through the day and early this evening.

The storm looms ominously in the minds of departing Harvard students, who fear its impact on their itineraries, or even their safety.

“I’m from Los Angeles, snow scares me,” said Lindsey E. Gary ’06.

Logan International Airport is ready for the storm, according to Phil Orlandella, director of media relations.

The airport has 50 pieces of snow-clearing equipment on hand and a bio-friendly ice-melting chemical on runways and will have a larger staff on duty to keep the airport running smoothly.

An estimated 60,000 travelers will pass through Logan today, according to Orlandella—not quite the 75,000-80,000 common in years before Sept. 11, but still a heavy travel day.

Orlandella suggested that those bound for Logan call their airlines today to check their flight status since airlines, not airports, ultimately decide whether it is safe to fly.

Travelers should arrive 30-60 minutes earlier than usual due to the weather and predicted congestion, Orlandella added.

Students catching a train may face slightly more optimistic prospects.

“Unlike planes, trains can plow through snow,” said an Amtrak spokesperson.

Barring a frozen switch or icy tracks, Amtrak cautiously expects no delays.

These assurances, however, did not console a concerned Christopher A. Lin ’06.

“I’m really afraid that the train might derail,” said Lin, who will be traveling home to New Jersey.

With most of Boston’s 50 area colleges and universities going on break today, departing students will likely face lines no matter what mode of transportation they choose.

A number of area students waited yesterday at South Station for their train to arrive, determined to beat the crowds and the storm.

Northeastern students Eric Maass and John Keiter cut class for a Tuesday ticket. They said that the rush has already begun.

“The T was packed,” said Keiter.

For his part, Maass offered words of encouragement to those who will brave today’s bigger crowds and inclement weather.

“Good luck,” he snickered.