Thanksgiving Travel Faces Weather Challenges Across the U.S.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has projected a significant increase in travel during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, impacting millions of Americans. While many will enjoy dry conditions, meteorological forecasts indicate potential disruptions in the West Coast and Northeast due to adverse weather.

Meteorologists predict rain showers from California to the Pacific Northwest, extending into the Rockies, which may cause travel delays. In the Northeast, a lingering low-pressure system is expected to bring scattered rain and even snow in higher elevations, particularly affecting New England and interior regions. This system could result in gusty winds and possibly delay flights, especially at major hubs such as San Francisco on Sunday and Northeast megalopolis airports on Saturday.

Looking ahead to early next week, a cold front alongside a jet stream disturbance is forecasted to impact the Great Lakes, southern, and eastern parts of the country with rain and winds. Snow is expected to be limited to areas near the Canadian border. The West is predicted to experience extensive rainfall and mountain snow as new storms roll through.

The traditional pre-Thanksgiving travel day on Wednesday might see the Central States and Rockies experiencing snow, which could affect travel in metro areas like Denver and Salt Lake City. A developing low-pressure system might also bring rain to the mid and lower-Mississippi valleys, with snowfall possible on the northern fringes of the rainfall. Lake-effect snow could also complicate travel east of the Great Lakes. However, much of the East and West Coasts may remain dry, minimizing travel disruptions.

Despite the developing situation, it is premature to pinpoint exact areas for potential rain or snow travel issues. However, it is more certain that colder air will move across the Central and Eastern states as November ends and December begins. The public is advised to stay updated through sources such as weather.com and The Weather Channel.

Meanwhile, a potent winter storm system over the Northeast is currently generating significant weather activity. Accumulating snow is falling in parts of New York’s Catskills and the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where total accumulations could reach up to a foot before the weekend. The storm’s progression has already prompted Winter Storm Warnings in these regions.

The National Weather Service has highlighted concerns about a high-impact winter storm and forecasted heavy snowfall rates, particularly affecting counties like Sullivan in New York and Pike in Pennsylvania. These conditions have emerged as the storm pulls colder air from the north, also impacting regions such as Indianapolis with snow and low visibility.

With the impending travel rush, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is gearing up for what could be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record. Forecasts indicate that while rain totals in the Northeast are expected to range between 1-2 inches, some localities could see upwards of 2-3 inches, potentially alleviating ongoing drought conditions to some extent.