Wet snow forecast ahead of Thanksgiving – What to know if you travel

On By Littum

The forecasted weather comes as millions of Americans prepare to travel for the holidays.

Boris SV/Getty Images A plane loads passengers while sitting on a snowy tarmac

Boris SV/Getty Images

An airplane is loading passengers while sitting on a snowy tarmac

Americans are set to experience a record Thanksgiving travel season this year, but some wet and snowy weather in the forecast could put a damper on those plans.

Widespread weather patterns from the Pacific Northwest all the way down to Texas put travel at risk ahead of the busy Thanksgiving week. All that comes as AAA predicted almost 80 million travelers were expected to leave home between Tuesday 26 November and Monday 2 December.

In Oregon and northern California, travelers were expected to deal with 5 inches of rain and at least 3 inches of snow thanks to a “prolonged atmospheric flood” that was forecast to start as early as Monday, according to NBC News. There was also a chance of snow in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Travelers in the central and southern plains were dealing with a forecast of rain and thunderstorms, while those from northwest Texas through central Oklahoma were threatened by flooding.

Later in the week, NBC said an upper-level low-pressure system could develop over the Great Lakes and Northeast.

The wet weather forecast comes as 79.9 million travelers are expected to hit the roads and take to the skies for Thanksgiving, setting a new record and exceeding pre-pandemic numbers, according to AAA. Of those, 71.7 million are expected to travel by car, and more than 5.8 million are expected to fly domestically.

To prepare for potentially less than ideal weather (and make it a less stressful holiday), motorists must ensure that their cars are in tip-top shape, pack the car with winter essentials in case of emergency, and consider installing skid chains or snow tires.

When flying, travelers should check airlines’ flight advisories — although major carriers have yet to issue any for Thanksgiving week — anticipate potential delays by taking advantage of airline apps and flight trackers such as FlightAware, know their rights if something goes wrong, and consider travel insurance so they don’t stand out in the cold.