Severe Storms Expected Across U.S. This Thanksgiving Weekend

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — A significant winter storm is set to impact millions of travelers across the United States this Thanksgiving weekend, with heavy rain and snow expected to blanket more than 1,000 miles of the country.

The storm will first hit the Pacific Northwest on Thanksgiving night, bringing rain and snowfall to higher elevations. Moving rapidly eastward, it is projected to affect the Midwest and beyond, prompting blizzard warnings for parts of Wisconsin and Michigan as it sweeps through the Great Lakes.

Travelers in the eastern regions are advised to brace for worsening conditions, as snow will likely accumulate in areas from the Rockies to the Appalachians. Some regions could see snowfall amounts of 20 inches or more due to lake-effect snow, particularly in northeast Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, and southwest New York.

The storm is set to strengthen as it tracks into the Plains on Saturday. Forecasts indicate a stark transition from rain to snow, affecting states like Nebraska and Kansas. Winds are expected to pick up as the storm intensifies, complicating travel further.

According to CNN Weather, the storm will pull away from the East Coast by early Monday, December 1, following a wave of precipitation across the central U.S. The models show that snowfall totals are still uncertain, but a significant opportunity for accumulation is emerging.

Travelers in typically snowy areas, such as Chicago, should prepare for a potentially heavy snow forecast amid existing lake-effect conditions. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, only a trace of measurable snow has fallen this season, contrasting sharply with its regular November averages.

Heavy rains could lead to flash flooding in the southern states beginning Saturday, particularly in eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. As the storm bears down, steady rain will spread throughout the eastern U.S. on Sunday, although major flooding is less likely.

In the wake of this storm, an Arctic blast is expected to sweep across the northern U.S., bringing extremely cold temperatures. Highs may only reach the teens and low 20s in some areas. Central states could see temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below average.

As December approaches, many areas in the northern Midwest could experience temperatures plunging below zero. Meteorologists warn that this cold snap might be an indication of harsher winter conditions as the season progresses.