Coast-to-coast storm disrupts Thanksgiving holiday travel with heavy snow and violent storms

On By Littum

If you live in the eastern half of the US and expect to hit the track before Thanksgiving on Tuesday, you could be in for some trouble as the interior Northeast and New England deal with a wintry mix as the Southeast faces threats of rain and some rumblings of thunder.

Millions of Americans across the United States have begun packing the roads and airports ahead of Thanksgiving, but a powerful storm moving from coast to coast could snarl travel before the holiday and as people begin their journeys home after feasting with family and friends.

The first half of the busy Thanksgiving travel week includes storms dumping rain and mountain snow in the West, while the eastern half of the country has rain, freezing rain and snow.

If that wasn’t enough to dampen the holiday spirit, the FOX Forecast Center is tracking another winter storm that could affect travel in the Northeast as millions of people prepare to head home.

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The winter weather rolls towards the west

Millions of people in the western United States are also dealing with a storm system that is impacting travel before Thanksgiving. Winter weather warnings extend across the region due to threats of heavy snow in the mountains, while lower elevations deal with torrential rain.

The FOX Forecast Center said the last of a series of low pressure systems is moving across the West Coast and into the Rockies, bringing wintry weather and rain to the region.

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A powerful winter storm is dumping heavy mountain snow across the West, including at Brighton Resort in Utah.

A significant winter storm will bring heavy snow to parts of Colorado and Utah.

Winter storm warnings are in effect across the region in anticipation of snow totals that could reach 3 feet in the highest elevations, making travel extremely difficult, if not impossible, over mountain passes.

This graphic shows the expected snow totals in the West.
(FOX Weather)

On Wednesday, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Denver could all see some form of precipitation.

However, the FOX Forecast Center does not expect any major impacts in Denver at this time. Conditions could worsen on major highways like Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 before the system moves out of the region before Thanksgiving Day.

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Rain, snow rolls through the east

A cold front stretching from the Southeast to northern New England is likely to lead to travel issues on Tuesday as heavy rain, snow and freezing rain fall across the region.

Millions of people across the eastern half of the United States are also getting in on the action and should pack patience as delays are expected before Thanksgiving on Tuesday.

The FOX Forecast Center said a cold front stretching from southeastern to northern New England is producing rain, snow, freezing rain and even some rumbles of thunder in some places.

Larger airports in the east are likely to experience some disruption due to the large number of people traveling, bad weather and low ceilings. Low visibility and gusty winds will be a problem as the system moves off the east coast.

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This graphic shows winter weather alerts in New England.
(FOX Weather)

Farther north, where temperatures have been colder, freezing rain threatened to make travel hazardous in New England for those venturing into parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Severe weather is unlikely in the Southeast, but rain and possible thunderstorms could lead to delays at the world’s busiest airport – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Most of the rain and thunderstorms will taper off Tuesday evening.

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Thanksgiving winter storm

Last-minute Thanksgiving travel is expected to be difficult across the Northeast on Thursday as an incoming winter storm is expected to blast the region with snow and rain.

As if the pre-Thanksgiving travel woes weren’t enough, the FOX Forecast Center is also tracking another Thanksgiving Day winter storm expected to delay last-minute holiday travel, as well as for those shopping on Black Friday or starting their journeys back home.

This graphic shows the forecast for interstate driving in the Northeast.
(FOX Weather)

This is all due to the winter storm that is currently blowing the west. On Thursday, the system will move through the Midwest and Ohio Valley and into the Northeast.

The FOX Forecast Center expects a line of showers and thunderstorms to move through the Southeast and Tennessee Valley on Thursday. Some of these storms can become severe with damaging wind gusts.

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This graphic shows the rain forecast in the east.
(FOX Weather)

For those of you driving on Thanksgiving, expect queues on the roads and at airports.

To the north, heavier rain is likely over parts of the mid-Atlantic and northeast Thursday evening. The FOX Forecast Center said the system will strengthen as it approaches the region, and winds may also begin to kick up and cause delays at airports in Washington, Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia.

Snow will break out from the Midwest to New England north of the low pressure system. Cold air will initially be limited as the system exits the Midwest, but as the low strengthens, it will pull colder air in from Canada.

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This graphic shows the forecast snow totals in the Northeast.
(FOX Weather)

The FOX Forecast Center said snow is expected to be light except for parts of the interior Northeast. That’s where heavier snow could pile up across the region, especially over the higher elevations.

Upstate New York, the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire are all likely to see snow as the low tracks offshore through Thursday night.

Cities in New York, such as Syracuse, Buffalo and Binghamton, will likely get in on some accumulating snow as well.

And if heavy snow and storms weren’t enough to ruin the holiday, some of the coldest air of the season will infiltrate the United States starting on Thanksgiving and lasting into early next month.

Changes in the weather forecast are possible, so be sure to download free FOX Weather app and enables messages to be alerted to adjustments.