Thanksgiving week is here, and travelers should be prepared for adverse weather conditions across the U.S., including snow, rain, and storms. Delays on roads and in airports are likely, especially on Saturday and Sunday.
Wednesday Weather Outlook
Major airports that could be impacted: Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
- Eastern Rain: Showers and possible thundershowers may flare ahead of a cold front in parts of the East, causing potential flight delays at Northeast hubs.
- Great Lakes Snow: Winter Storm Alston will bring heavy snow and wind to the upper Mississippi Valley, including the Twin Cities, making commuting difficult. Snow will also affect Wisconsin, with possible light accumulations near Madison-Milwaukee. Gusty winds in the Dakotas and western Minnesota may cause blowing and drifting snow.
- Lake-Effect Snow: Snow and strong winds will spread from western Great Lakes snowbelts to the eastern snowbelts (northeast Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, southwest New York, upstate New York) overnight, creating dangerous travel conditions.
- Pacific Northwest: Light showers are possible, with steadier rain expected at night in western Washington, including Seattle.
Thanksgiving Day Forecast
Major airports that could be impacted: Cleveland, Seattle
- Lake-Effect Snow: Heavy snowbands continue in the Great Lakes snowbelts. Whiteout conditions expected along stretches of I-90 (Cleveland to Buffalo), I-81 (north of Syracuse), and I-94/I-196 (western Michigan).
- Northwest and Rockies: Snow may affect the far northern Rockies, while western Washington and Oregon may see showers and gusty winds.
Black Friday Outlook
Major airports that could be impacted: Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas City
- Eastern Great Lakes Snow: Dangerous lake-effect snowbands continue, making travel challenging.
- Northern Plains Snow: Winter Storm Bellamy will spread snow from Montana into the Dakotas, Missouri Valley, and upper Midwest (Iowa, southern Wisconsin, western Illinois).
- Southern Storms: Showers and thunderstorms may affect eastern Kansas, western Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and western Louisiana. Heavy rainfall may cause flight delays at Dallas-Ft. Worth and Kansas City.
Saturday Travel Conditions
Major airports that could be impacted: Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis
- Midwest Winter Mix: Snow, sleet, and freezing rain likely across the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes, causing slippery roads and airport delays.
- Southern Storms: Thunderstorms and heavy rain may impact Oklahoma, Texas, and the lower Mississippi Valley. Flash flooding and delays possible at Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston.
Sunday Outlook (Forecast Uncertain)
Major airports that could be impacted: Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Houston, New Orleans, Washington, D.C.
- Eastern U.S.: Rain expected across the East, with some snow in the interior Northeast and lake-effect snow in western Great Lakes. Major East Coast hubs may see significant flight delays.
- Southeast & Gulf Coast: Rain may affect Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, and possibly Florida.
- Rockies & High Plains: Snow could develop in central/southern Rockies and adjacent High Plains, from Colorado and western Kansas to northern New Mexico. Light showers may occur as far west as Arizona.
Travel Tip:
Check flight status frequently, leave extra travel time, and monitor road conditions if driving. Weather conditions are evolving, so stay updated with the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service and local advisories.
