Thanksgiving Weather Updates: Heavy snow forecast in 13 states

What to expect on Wednesday

On Wednesday, one of the busiest travel days of the year, snow is forecast to accumulate over the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to New Mexico. Denver may awaken to several inches of snow, The Washington Post reports.

Light to moderate rain is anticipated to fall across Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and western Tennessee. Light, wet snow might form on the northern edge of this rain shield, perhaps falling across northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Michigan.

That night, the storm system is predicted to develop when an Arctic air mass to the north interacts with a surge of warmer, moister air from the Gulf of Mexico.

This will likely provide unsettled weather on Wednesday night, with thunderstorms probable in the Southeast and rain moving across the Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Winter storm warning issued in 6 states ahead of arctic blast

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings in six states as “heavy snow” is expected in large regions of the country.

Portions of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Idaho were subjected to the warnings as of Monday night. The forecast looked particularly severe in Colorado, where an NWS map showed stormy weather blanketing most of the state. Several feet of snow was expected in some areas.

NWS warnings were released on Tuesday night for high elevations in Colorado’s eastern La Garita Mountains and eastern San Juan Mountains above 10,000 feet until 5 a.m. local time Thursday.

The eastern Sawatch Mountains and western Mosquito Range, above 11,000 feet and 9,000 feet, respectively, in western Chaffee County, were also warned, as up to 34 inches of snowfall is expected.

Read the full story by Aila Slisco on Newsweek.

Denver likely to see ‘travel delay impacts’: Exclusive

FOX Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen exclusively told Newsweek that some in Denver, Colorado are likely to “see some travel delay impacts” as a result of the atmospheric river that hit the West Coast.

However, travel in general “looks pretty nice” on the day before Thanksgiving.

“This year’s travel outlook for Thanksgiving looks pretty nice for Wednesday,” Van Dillen told Newsweek. “The huge atmospheric river that slammed the west coast still will have some punch into the Rockies, so Denver will see some travel delay impacts both on the roads and in the air. The rest of the country will see smooth sailing, initially. The problems start to occur on late Wednesday night with rain into the Ohio Valley.”

Hefty rainfall coming to the East and Midwest

Heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midwest and East Coast through Thanksgiving, with snow possible in the Northeastern states. Heavy snowfall fell in northern Pennsylvania, especially the Pocono Mountains. Higher mountains recorded up to 17 inches (43 cm), with lower accumulations in valley communities such as Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 consumers in 10 counties were without electricity, down from 80,000 a day earlier.

Nearly 10,000 residents in New York’s Catskills region were still without power Sunday morning, two days after a blizzard dropped heavy snow on sections of the area.

Precipitation in West Virginia helped alleviate the state’s worst drought in at least two decades, boosting ski resorts as they prepare to open in the coming weeks.

Thanksgiving winter storm map shows 8 states with worst travel conditions

Poor travel conditions will be in place for eight states on Wednesday, which is expected to be one of the busiest holiday travel days leading up to Thanksgiving.

An updated forecast from AccuWeather shows the expected weather impacts across the nation as a record 71 million Americans are set to travel for the holiday, AAA reported.

The eight worst affected states are Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

AccuWeather forecasts that “significant travel disruptions are anticipated for tens of millions” of travelers.

A Newsweek map shows the eight states with poor travel conditions forecast for Wednesday.

Read the full story by Flynn Nicholls on Newsweek.

NWS Boston shares start and end times of rainfall

The National Weather Service in Boston has shared the estimated start and end times of the rainfall in the area.

It also confirmed that the conditions should improve in the evening hours today.

Tuesday and Wednesday will likely see traffic that is ‘more than double what it typically is on a normal day’

Drivers should be aware that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are the worst times to travel by car, but roadways should be clear by Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX.

The optimum periods for motorists to return home are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, before 8 a.m., and after 7 p.m. on Monday, according to the company.

According to INRIX transportation researcher Bob Pishue, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day” in cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and Washington.

Winter weather advisory in effect for New England

A winter weather advisory is in force for areas of northern New England on Tuesday, with icy and snowy conditions serving as a preview of Thursday’s forecast Thanksgiving nor’easter.

The advisory is in force until 1 p.m. in parts of northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The National Weather Service predicts mixed precipitation in those locations, including modest accumulations of snow, sleet, and ice.

“The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning commute,” the NWS said. “Slow down and use caution while traveling.”

Thanksgiving winter storm forecast shows two possible scenarios

A brewing storm in the eastern United States could bring rain, snow, and wind during Thanksgiving week, potentially disrupting holiday travel and parades.

Meteorologists for weather news website AccuWeather project two possible scenarios for the storm, which may impact the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and the Northeast through Black Friday.

1. Stronger, Slower-Moving Storm
2. Weaker, Southern-Tracking Storm

Read the full set of scenarios in this story by Flynn Nicholls on Newsweek.

Sierra Nevada storm warning ends today

The National Weather Service office in Sacramento, California, has issued a winter storm warning for the Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow forecast at higher elevations and wind gusts up to 55 mph (88 kph).

Snowfall of about 4 feet was predicted, with the biggest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday.

‘Hard freeze’ headed toward the Southeast

A “hard freeze” is expected early next week across the Southeast, which includes southern Georgia, Alabama, and northern Florida, the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center reported.

Traveling on Thanksgiving Day

The roads are expected to be jammed with a record number of 71.7 million people traveling by car over Thanksgiving.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that road travelers will surpass pre-pandemic numbers in 2019. There will be an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared with last year. Gas prices are also lower this Thanksgiving season compared with 2023.

“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.

“Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”

Read the full story by Monica Sager on Newsweek.

Winter weather warnings in 13 states 6 feet of snow to hit

Winter is tightening its icy grip across much of the country, with a string of states slapped with weather warnings this week amid fears of treacherous conditions.

Reduced visibility and heavy snow—up to 6 feet of snow accumulation in some parts—are forecast just days away from Thanksgiving. And the National Weather Service has issued warnings for 13 states: Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Vermont, Michigan, Alaska, New York, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire and New Mexico.

It has been a tough winter so far for many Americans, who have been battered with a string of storms. Last week, two powerful weather systems combined forces, when an atmospheric river, or water vapor in the sky, and a bomb cyclone, namely a rapid drop in pressure, collided to whip up a fierce winter storm that saw those on higher ground pounded with snow. Newsweek has compiled experts’ safety tips for winter travelers because the hazardous conditions look set to continue, judging by this week’s forecast.

Read the full story by Chloe Mayer on Newsweek.