Where will snow, rain and wind cause difficult travel?

Thanksgiving is one of the most traveled holidays of the year. Tens of millions will also hit the roads and airways before and after the holidays, and AccuWeather meteorologists say travel will be feast or famine, depending on where one’s travels take them.

A new travel record is expected for Thanksgiving 2024. According to AAA79.9 million people are expected to travel through Thanksgiving week. This includes both air travelers and those traveling by car. This is an increase of 1.7 million people from Thanksgiving week last year.

The storm-weary West will continue to deal with rain and snow. While a repeat of last week’s bomb cyclone not expected, more precipitation is on the way. In addition, rain and snow will come further south than last week’s event. Rain will drench central California, largely centered on Tuesday. As the moisture meets colder air in the mountains, several meters of snow is expected to accumulate.

This storm will continue to develop eastward, with snow in the Wasatch of Utah and the Colorado Rockies. Some snow will also fall a little farther north in eastern Idaho and western Wyoming. While slightly less snow will fall than in California, several feet will still accumulate on the mountain tops.

“A difficult travel area will be in and around the Denver area as snow spreads across the area on Wednesday, with 1-3 inches of snow expected to fall,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Emma Belscher said.

Calmer weather is expected for the holiday itself as the strong winds progress east.

The week will begin quietly across the middle of the country, meaning travel by ground or air on Tuesday should be smooth sailing.

On Wednesday, the storm in the Rockies will make its way into the plains. Most of the day will be dry, although a bit of snow may streak out into Kansas in the afternoon, making the journey a bit tougher compared to earlier in the week. However, for most of the region, travel will be less dangerous than further west.

Cold air will rush south by Thanksgiving Day. However, there should be precipitation to the south and east.

Travel on Wednesday will be hassle-free in the Southeast. Wednesday night and Thursday things change.

As the cross-country storm makes its way into the Southeast, thunderstorms will rumble across much of the region. In fact, AccuWeather meteorologists warn that some of these thunderstorms could become severe. Rain from thunderstorms could cause mudslides on roads, and lightning delays are possible at airports in cities from Houston to Atlanta. There will also be potential from other hazards.

“Thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday across the South could cause problems for all last-minute travelers as they could be accompanied by torrential downpours, damaging gusts and even isolated tornadoes,” Belscher warned.

Travel conditions should improve on Friday, but there may be persistent impacts along the coast.

Weather will be a bigger issue in the Northeast and Great Lakes during Thanksgiving week as more storms sweep through the regions. The week begins with snow, rain or a mix of rain and snow from Minnesota to Michigan and south into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. A dry day is expected along Interstate 95.

Colder air will arrive on gusty winds in the Great Lakes and Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Tuesday. A few snow flurries are likely to fly in parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. Meanwhile, there will be rain in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Some snow is also possible in northern New England and far UPstate New York.

The only obstacle to travel the day before Thanksgiving will be the winds around the Great Lakes and northern New England. These regions may also have some snow showers.

While the Southeast will potentially have severe thunderstorms on Thanksgiving, the storm will cause different problems further north. The western Great Lakes will continue to have snow showers, but the mid-Atlantic will have rain with a patch of snow on the northern edge of the precipitation shield.

In some places near the rain-snow boundary, precipitation may begin as snow before mixing with and changing to rain.

The cold air further west will also include much of the east in the wake of the Thanksgiving storm. The cool air flowing over the Great Lakes, which are still relatively warm in late November and early December, will spawn lake-effect snow. Flurries can fly dozens of miles away from the lakes, but places closer to the Great Lakes will have more stable and heavier snow. Prolonged cold air can make this a prolonged lake effect event.

“Post-holiday travelers near the Great Lakes won’t be in the clear as lake-effect snow will continue into the weekend,” Belscher said.

Whether you’re traveling just a few miles or flying cross-country or something in between, it’s always a good idea to check the free AccuWeather app before you leave for your destination.

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