Dangerous winter storm warning for Thanksgiving

More than 55 million people are traveling across the United States ahead of Thanksgiving. In this situation, some may encounter disruptive weather while driving on the road or taking to the sky.

The busiest day

Thanksgiving is synonymous with happiness, with the turkey being the main character in dinners, spending time with family and friends, watching football games and the start of the holiday season. Nevertheless, before the first piece of turkey can be served, millions of Americans have to take a plane or hit the road in what is known as the busiest time of the year to travel across the country.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings for Washington, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, with storms expected on Thanksgiving, 28.^th November. Utah and New Mexico received earlier cold weather warnings.

A late November storm is poised to bring a variety of impacts, including severe weather, snow accumulation, high winds and the first real blast of winter-like temperatures this season, which could threaten early Thanksgiving travel – the week.

The storm is expected to develop out of the Rockies early next week and sweep north into the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, it will provide some soaking rain and the possibility of the season’s first snow on the storm’s western flanks.

“The week will initially be wet in the Plains with a change to snow in the Upper Midwest due to early travel. Snow showers will linger in the northern Plains and Midwest through the holidays,” Pastelok commented.

Some rain or snow showers can be expected

Pastelok said there could be some rain or snow showers across the Great Lakes and Northeast, as well as across the Northwest and northern Rockies, but most of the United States should see drier weather. Colder air behind the storm will flow into the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley, where temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. These areas should be aware of this happening. Meanwhile, the storm will intensify as it spins over the Great Lakes from Wednesday into Thursday, bringing a widespread threat of high winds across the Great Lakes and eastern United States.

These areas should be paid attention to

If the storm center moves to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast toward the end of the week, trailing strong winds are expected to blow over Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, bringing the potential for heavy snow across western Michigan and the Upper Peninsula , in addition to the Western New York area.

The second option

Snowfall is possible across parts of the interior Ohio Valley, northern mid-Atlantic, and interior Northeast late in the week into the weekend, although there is still considerable uncertainty about the amount of cold air available for snowfall .

As the Thanksgiving travel week begins, inclement weather is set to affect the Northeast, potentially disrupting air and road traffic with rain and snow as the weekend approaches.

Get ready for the conditions

Travelers should prepare for delays as the conditions can snarl transport networks during this busy period. In addition to travel concerns, temperatures are expected to drop across the Northern Plains and northeastern United States, ushering in a wintry atmosphere.

This dramatic turn will add to the seasonal cold and mark a stark contrast to milder fall conditions earlier this month. For many, the colder air will serve as a brisk reminder of the upcoming holiday season, while for others it can pose challenges for outdoor plans or last-minute preparations.

Whether navigating icy roads or rallying against biting winds, those across the affected regions will need to adapt as winter weather sets in early.