Northeast winter storm threatens Thanksgiving Day plans with snow as cold air pushes through

Travel is in full swing across the United States this week as tens of thousands of people prepare to leave for the Thanksgiving holiday.

And while the FOX Forecast Center expects some potential disruption in the beginning and toward the middle of the week, bigger problems could arise for those traveling home — especially in the Northeast.

‘Tis the season

The FOX Forecast Center said that early this week, a weak storm system is expected to bring rain from parts of the Southeast to the Northeast.

Significant travel disruptions are not expected with this low-impact storm, and the FOX Forecast Center expects all winter weather to be limited near the Canadian border and in the Great Lakes region.

A winter weather advisory was in effect Monday morning across parts of the Upper Midwest and northern New England as a result of this first storm system.

Meanwhile, with increasingly warmer temperatures in the East, heavy rain should fall along the busy Interstate 95 corridor.

But this is by no means a dealbreaker when it comes to Thanksgiving travel.

Thanksgiving winter storm looming?

At the same time, the FOX Forecast Center said a more powerful storm system will work its way through the Intermountain West, which could lead to snowy roads and delays at major airports in that region.

But of greater concern to residents and visitors to the eastern United States, the FOX Forecast Center said it will track a winter storm that could affect millions of people in the Northeast and New England starting Wednesday and lasting through the weekend.

On the warm side of the storm, there is the potential for heavy rainfall throughout the Tennessee Valley and into the mid-Atlantic, which could cause problems on Thanksgiving Day.

While more rain is expected along the I-95 corridor, concerns are starting to mount that heavy snow could significantly impact travel on Thanksgiving Day and after the holiday.

“We’re all just going to have to grin and bear it,” FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said.

“It’s really the timing for the most part. It’s weather that you’re used to going through in the winter months.”

The FOX Forecast Center says there is an increasing likelihood that those in the Northeast affected by last week’s winter storm will face another significant snowstorm, especially from Thanksgiving Day through Black Friday.

Forecasters said this brewing storm and its effects are likely to continue into next weekend and could affect travel, whether by car or plane.

Additionally, the season’s first heavy lake effect snow event may also occur in the Great Lakes region next weekend and into early next week.

“The transition is the fact that this is the day after Thanksgiving and we have a lot of people that will be traveling,” Merwin continued.

“And when you catch inconvenient weather on a big travel day, it can equal a big headache.”

Bitter blast of cold weather

It’s not just the snow and rain that can make these journeys home disappointing.

The FOX Forecast Center expects some of the coldest air of the season to invade the United States from Canada in the days after Thanksgiving and into early December.

Below-average temperatures are expected across a large swath of the US, with parts of the northern plains expected to drop perhaps as low as -10 degrees.

And if you factor in the wind chill, it can feel even colder.

Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any changes in the forecast that may affect your travel plans.