Key Highlights
- Winter storms may delay travel across the Northeast and Midwest on Thanksgiving weekend.
- Expect heavy lake-effect snow in northern Wisconsin and parts of Michigan and New York.
- Rain and thunderstorms are forecast for southern regions, potentially leading to flight delays at Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston airports.
- Precipitation could be in the form of rain or snow across major East Coast hubs by Sunday.
Thanksgiving Travel Weather Forecast: Back-To-Back Winter Storms for North, Rain, Storms for South, East
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is shaping up to be a challenging one for travelers in the United States, with significant weather disruptions expected. A series of winter storms and rain events are forecasted to impact various regions across the country, particularly during Friday through Sunday.
Where Snow and Wind Could Delay Travel Home
The Northeast, Midwest, and Great Lakes region face a high risk of travel delays starting Wednesday evening into Thursday. Winter Storm Alston is predicted to transition into a lake-effect storm, bringing heavy snowfall and potentially blizzard conditions in northern Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Travelers heading home during Thanksgiving Day might find Friday relatively quieter. However, the return journey on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is expected to see significant disruptions due to Winter Storm Bellamy. Passengers are advised to stay weather-aware and prepare for potential delays and slower traffic in central U.S. areas on Saturday and eastern regions on Sunday.
Thanksgiving Day’s Forecast
A number of major airports, including Cleveland, Seattle, Portland (OR), will experience heavy lake-effect snow bands that could lead to whiteout conditions along Interstate 90 from Cleveland to near Buffalo, Interstate 81 north of Syracuse, New York, and Interstates 94 and 196 in western Michigan. In the Pacific Northwest, some showers and gusty winds are expected.
Additionally, Winter Storm Bellamy is set to impact major hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth (late) and Kansas City (late). These areas may face dangerous travel conditions due to persistent lake-effect snowbands, with some wrap-around snow showers possible in northern New England. Meanwhile, in the Northern Plains, heavy snow from Bellamy will spread into Montana before moving into parts of Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and western Illinois by Friday night.
Friday’s Forecast: Black Friday
The day is likely to see persistent lake-effect snowbands in the eastern Great Lakes region, posing significant travel risks. Northern New England may also experience some wrap-around snow showers. Meanwhile, in the North Central Plains, winter storm conditions will spread from Montana into the Dakotas and Missouri Valley by Friday night.
In the South, showers and thunderstorms are expected to break out from Oklahoma and Texas to the middle and lower Mississippi Valley, potentially leading to heavy rainfall and nighttime flight delays at Dallas-Fort Worth and Kansas City. The region remains waterlogged following recent storms, making any additional rain unwelcome.
Saturday’s Forecast
Major airports in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh may experience significant flight delays due to widespread snow from Winter Storm Bellamy through the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes.
This will lead to slippery roads and challenging travel conditions, particularly at Chicago-O’Hare.
By Saturday night, this wintry mess is expected to spread eastward into the Ohio Valley and eastern Great Lakes region. In the South, thunderstorms with heavy rain could rumble from Oklahoma and Texas to the middle and lower Mississippi Valley, potentially leading to flash flooding in some areas. Both Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston are at risk of nighttime flight delays due to this weather event.
The Southeast region may also see showers and possibly a rumble of thunder from Virginia and the Carolinas to the northern Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, the central and southern Rockies could experience some snow development by Sunday afternoon.
Sunday’s Forecast
Major East Coast hubs including Atlanta, Boston, Denver (late), Detroit, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., are expected to face significant flight delays as Winter Storm Bellamy moves into the region. The majority of precipitation will be in the form of rain, though some snow is possible in parts of the interior Northeast and lake-effect snowbands could linger along the Great Lakes.
The forecast for the Rocky Mountains includes potential snow development, which may spread into the adjacent High Plains from Colorado to northern New Mexico and possibly parts of the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma by Sunday night. Some showers are also possible as far west as Arizona.
