Bird weather! Rain and snow will wreak havoc across the US during Thanksgiving travel

On By Littum

Traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday could be a little wonky this year, with winter weather forecast to affect a wide swath of the United States over the next week.

Those hoping to hit the roads and skies around November 28 may have to contend with snow in the Midwest, driving rain along the Gulf Coast and a powerful atmospheric river storm battering the West Coast.

FOX forecasters warned Sunday that major cities in Wisconsin and Minnesota will be on watch for snow showers on Wednesday, and that travel in the Dakotas could be hazardous for the latter part of this week.

FOX Forecast Center said a low pressure system is expected to form in the Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes region, drifting into the mid-Atlantic and northeast by the end of the week. Snow is possible in the Ohio River Valley, northern mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast into the weekend, but FOX Weather noted that there is still “significant uncertainty” about the amount of cold air available for snow.

Meanwhile, rain in the Northeast could be heavy, the center added, helping with the ongoing fire weather threatening the tri-state area.

While the forecast for Thanksgiving Day remains unclear and federal forecasters often avoid predictions beyond a week out, the US Climate Prediction Centers six-to-10-day outlook shows above average precipitation in much of the western and northwestern United States, and below normal precipitation in the southwestern and eastern United States.

This Thanksgiving holiday will see a record 80 million travelers in airports, on the roads and using other modes of transportation. Those looking to travel home for Thanksgiving this week may have to deal with blizzards and other inclement weather

This Thanksgiving holiday will see a record 80 million travelers in airports, on the roads and using other modes of transportation. Those looking to travel home for Thanksgiving this week may have to deal with blizzards and other inclement weather (Getty Images)

Temperatures are also likely to be above normal across much of the central and southern United States.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts sunshine on Thanksgiving Day for the Upper Midwest to the East Coast and across the Southwest. In the Pacific Northwest, there may be some rain. Further north, Alaska will likely see snow.

Snow will also fall in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and rain showers could slow travel from the Ohio Valley to the Deep South.

Temperatures in the central United States and the plains will be warmer than normal, the publication said. The plains should also be mostly dry, but could see a few showers, the almanac noted.

A map shows the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's 6-10 day precipitation outlook across the United States. Those looking to travel home for Thanksgiving this week may have to deal with blizzards and other inclement weather.

A map shows the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s 6-10 day precipitation outlook across the United States. Those looking to travel home for Thanksgiving this week may have to deal with blizzards and other inclement weather. (NWS Climate Prediction Center)

A record 80 million Americans are expected to hit the roads and skies during the Thanksgiving holiday period, including the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day and the Monday after.

This prediction from AAA, including these two days for the first time, exceeds last year’s forecast of nearly 80 million by 1.7 million. That is 2 million more than in 2019.

The group expects a record 71.7 million will travel by car, 5.84 million will fly domestically and close to 2.3 million are expected to travel by modes of transport including buses, cruises and trains.

According to media forecasting firm AccuWeather most weather-delayed airports during the holidays are San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.

The National Retail Fund also expects a record number of in-store and online shoppers from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber ​​Monday. This year should see 183.4 million, up from 182 million last year.