Thanksgiving Weather Forecast for Travel | Weather.com

We don’t see any major storms on the horizon for this year’s Thanksgiving holiday. However, that doesn’t mean that areas with rain, snow or wind can’t lead to headaches at the airport or on the road.

Below we take a look at the current conditions and daily forecast through Sunday, as well as some areas where there could be delays or travel issues.

(​MORE: Thanksgiving Travel Survival Guide)

Current weather

The map below shows where areas of rain or snow are currently located.

Before Thanksgiving

Tuesday

• Possible travel problems: Heavy snow is possible in the highlands of Colorado, the Wasatch of Utah and the southern Sierra of California. Light snow is possible in the northern Great Lakes, some areas of the northern New England highlands, and the northern Rocky Mountains. Light rain is expected early in the New York City Tri-State into New England and parts of central and southern California.
• Possible weather-related delays at the airport: New York City (light rain, low clouds, then wind); Los Angeles (light rain)
• Good weather: Most of the central US, including the Florida Peninsula

(​MORE: America’s airports with the most weather delays)

• Possible travel problems: Snow will continue in the mountains of Colorado, with light snow possible in the adjacent Front Range. The central Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and Mid-South region will experience light rain and perhaps a few thunderstorms. This activity will expand to the east on Wednesday evening. Some light snow could form overnight in the southern Great Lakes and interior Northeast.
• Possible weather-related delays at the airport: Denver (light snow); Chicago (low clouds, drizzle); New York City (low clouds, later rain)
• Good weather: Most of the Plains from the Dakotas to Texas and the West Coast

(Amplify your forecast even further with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.)

Thanksgiving Day

• Possible travel problems: Some snow accumulation is expected, particularly in higher elevations from West Virginia to Pennsylvania, New York State and northern New England. Some lake effect snow is likely to develop in the Great Lakes snowbelts. Otherwise, some showers and a few thunderstorms are possible in the southeast, especially early on.
• Possible weather-related delays at the airport: New York City (low clouds, rain, wind mostly early)
• Good weather: Most of the Plains and the West will be dry, although strong, cold winds will blow through the northern Plains and upper Midwest.

After Thanksgiving

Friday

• Possible travel problems: Across portions of the Great Lakes snow belt from Upper Michigan to western and upstate New York, lake effect snow bands could be heavy and winds could be strong. This could cause significant travel problems on small portions of Interstate 90 from northeast Ohio east of Cleveland to southwest New York and Interstate 81 north of Syracuse, New York. Brisk, cold winds are also expected across the rest of the Midwest. Otherwise, only isolated showers, perhaps with rumbling thunder, are possible on the Florida Peninsula ahead of a cold front.
• Possible weather-related delays at the airport: None are expected at large turnstiles.
• Good weather: Much of the rest of the country is expected to be precipitation-free.

(​CARDS: 10-day forecast highs and lows for the USA)

Saturday

• Possible travel problems: Heavy lake effect snow bands are likely to continue across portions of the Great Lakes snow belt from Upper Michigan to New York State. Here, too, there could be significant travel problems within these snow bands. Parts of the central plains and mid-Mississippi Valley may experience light snow, which may make driving slippery.
• Possible weather-related delays at the airport: Kansas City (during light snow)
• Good weather: Much of the rest of the country is expected to be precipitation-free.

(​MORE: Winter outlook travel tips from a meteorologist)

Sunday

• Possible travel problems: Heavy lake effect snow bands are likely to continue across portions of the Great Lakes snow belt from Upper Michigan to New York State. Since it has snowed on the lake for several days in recent days, local snowfall could occur significant Travel problems in these areas.
• Possible weather-related delays at the airport: None are expected at large turnstiles.
• Good weather: Much of the rest of the country is expected to be precipitation-free.

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