‘Waves Of Snow’ Could Affect Thanksgiving Travel, Weather Service Says

CHICAGO — Thanksgiving travelers beware: A storm is brewing on the horizon.

Potential “waves of snow” could move across Chicago from Tuesday night into Thursday, the Thanksgiving holiday. The storm could affect travel in the broader Great Lakes region in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and on the holiday itself National Weather Service.

The exact location and intensity of the storm system has yet to be determined three days out, said National Weather Service meteorologist David King.

“There’s still a lot of uncertainty with that,” King said. “With what we’ve seen in the models, it’s really kind of hard to be able to pinpoint … where the focus is going to be, but there’s at least this kind of consistent signature we’ve seen where we expect there there must be some kind of winter storm.”

The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are considered those the busiest travel days of the year.

Some of the signs that indicate a winter storm include a combination of temperatures below or near freezing along with increased levels of moisture in the atmosphere, King said. Temperatures will drop into the 30s and lower Tuesday night.

Monday will see temperatures in the 40s and 50s, with some rain in the early morning hours.

Thanksgiving travelers should make emergency plans if the storm rolls directly over the region, whether Chicagoans are “crossing the country or just down the street,” King said. Highways and airports spanning from eastern Iowa to western Ohio could be adversely affected by the winter storm threat, he said.

The interstates that may be affected by the storm system include I-35, I-39, I-55, I-57, I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90 and I-94, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s still kind of wait and see,” King said. “We want to make sure that when people are preparing, they have the supplies they need (in the event of the storm). Are they going to have to adjust their plans just to stay in touch with the forecast while they’re making their plans?”

The system will usher in colder temperatures in the coming weeks, with temperatures dropping into the teens Thursday evening.

Chicago saw its first snow of the season Thursday, when nearly three inches of snow fell at O’Hare Airport.

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: