Winter storm to snarl Thanksgiving Day travel for millions as snow, coldest air of season invade Northeast
The FOX Forecast Center expects some of the coldest air of the season to invade the U.S. from Canada in the days after Thanksgiving and into the start of December.
Rain, snow delaying Thanksgiving holiday travel
The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring two storm systems charging across the U.S. that could disrupt travel to millions on Thanksgiving week. Flight disruptions are already happening due to weather and staff across multiple regions.
Travel is kicking into high gear this week as millions start to hit the roads and pack airports ahead of Thanksgiving. And while most people should arrive at their holiday destinations relatively stress-free, the return trip back home could be tricky for millions in the eastern half of the U.S., especially for those in the Northeast.
‘Tis the season.
![These graphics show the setup for a significant winter storm that could slow post-Thanksgiving travel for tens of millions of people in the East.]()
Image 1 of 2These graphics show the setup for a significant winter storm that could slow post-Thanksgiving travel for tens of millions of people in the East. ( )
![These graphics show the setup for a significant winter storm that could slow post-Thanksgiving travel for tens of millions of people in the East.]()
Image 2 of 2These graphics show the setup for a significant winter storm that could slow post-Thanksgiving travel for tens of millions of people in the East. ( )
The FOX Forecast Center is continuing to monitor travel troubles from coast to coast as the workweek begins. Another storm is slamming the West with heavy rain and mountain snow, while a fast-moving system is producing winter weather that’s impacting travelers in the Upper Midwest.
That same system is also expected to bring rain to the Southeast and Northeast before a potentially bigger system has a more significant impact on travel starting on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving winter storm to slow travel across eastern US
(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said a Thanksgiving Day storm is expected to cause last-minute travel troubles that will likely last until Black Friday and the start of the weekend.
An area of low pressure is expected to move through portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley into the Northeast on Thanksgiving. The most impactful weather is expected to occur north of the system, where the air will be cold enough to allow for snow to break out.
The flakes could fly anywhere from Iowa to Maine, but the FOX Forecast Center expects the snow to be centralized across areas of the interior Northeast.
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(FOX Weather)
The cold air will initially be limited as the storm system moves out of the Midwest, but as it continues to strengthen, more frigid air will be pulled farther south.
That, the FOX Forecast Center said, could allow for some decent snow totals to cover parts of the Northeast, including upstate New York, the Green Mountains in Vermont, the White Mountains in New Hampshire and portions of Maine, as the Thanksgiving Day winter storm slides offshore.
Travel could be significantly impacted along the Interstate 81 and 90 corridors in New York on Thanksgiving, with cities like Syracuse, Buffalo and Binghamton all getting in on the winter weather action.
The snow there could continue into Black Friday before it finally exits the region.
(FOX Weather)
While winter weather is expected farther north, heavy rain and even some severe weather are possible to the south.
The FOX Forecast Center said that to the south of the Thanksgiving Day winter storm, a line of storms could be slamming parts of the Tennessee Valley and Southeast. Some severe weather is possible, with the strongest thunderstorms producing heavy rain and damaging winds.
People who are starting to hit the road to get back home are likely to see significant delays in areas with the most impactful weather, and major airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) are likely to see flight delays and cancellations as storms move through during the early-morning hours.
Closer to the center of the storm, however, heavy rain is likely to fall. This is likely to impact millions of travelers in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with heavy rain being accompanied by strong winds along the busy Interstate 95 corridor.
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Lake-effect snow to snarl post-Thanksgiving travel
(FOX Weather)
This incoming winter storm on Thanksgiving isn't expected to produce blockbuster snow totals, but it could certainly jump-start the lake-effect snow season in the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
The FOX Forecast Center said that this is the time of year when the frequency of lake-effect snow events increases. As this latest storm system moves out of the Northeast, a blast of frigid air will spread across the region into the weekend and beyond.
That surge of cold air from Canada will allow for temperatures to nosedive, with many areas struggling to get out of the mid-20s to mid-30s.
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So, with that frigid air in place, the pattern could support significant lake-effect snow for areas downwind of Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
As of Monday, the FOX Forecast Center suggests that a generally west-to-northwest flow is likely, which would favor areas east and southeast of the Great Lakes to see the highest potential for a lake-effect snow event.
Changes to the forecast are possible, so be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any changes as we get closer to Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and the weekend.