Thanksgiving Weather Forecast: Snow and Rain to Disrupt Travel Across the U.S.

As Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, a complex and potentially disruptive weather pattern is forecast to impact travel across much of the United States. A low-pressure system that brought snow to the Rockies is expected to intensify and move through the Midwest and into the Northeast, causing significant travel troubles.

In the Midwest, snow is anticipated, with areas around Denver likely to see 1-3 inches of snow on Wednesday. This region can also expect damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes. The western Great Lakes will continue to experience snow showers, with dangerous wind chill temperatures and heavy lake-effect snow expected downwind of the region.

The eastern U.S., particularly the I-95 corridor, will face a mix of rain and snow. Major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. are forecast to receive rain, while interior regions of the Northeast, such as upstate New York, may see snow. Rainfall in these cities is expected to taper off by mid-day, with some areas seeing improvements later in the day.

Winter weather advisories are in place for northern Michigan, where up to 6 inches of additional snowfall could accumulate. The Northeast is also under advisories, with pockets of freezing rain potentially creating hazardous road conditions in areas like the southern Adirondacks and southern Vermont.

A significant arctic outbreak is expected to arrive in the northern Rockies and Plains on Thanksgiving, moving south and east through the weekend. This will bring extremely cold temperatures and the potential for lake-effect snow, particularly in western New York State, where 3 to 4 feet of snow are forecast through Monday.

The weather conditions are expected to impact a record number of travelers. According to AAA, 71.7 million people will travel by car, 5.84 million will fly domestically, and nearly 2.3 million will use other modes of transportation. Major airports such as San Francisco International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Seattle-Tacoma, and Boston Logan are likely to experience significant delays and cancellations.