Thanksgiving 2015 Travel Forecast: Snow, Rain in the West and Mostly Calm in the East

November 20,2015
For the millions of travelers hitting the roads and airports for the Thanksgiving holiday week, weather conditions across the country will be divided between mostly calm in the East and active in the West.
After a snowstorm hits the Great Lakes Saturday, quieter weather conditions will rule much of the East through next Wednesday thanks to high pressure. Meanwhile, a southward dip in the jet stream will keep most of the rain and snow in the West before sliding into the nation's midsection by Thanksgiving Day.
(MORE: 10 Ways to Outsmart Thanksgiving Traffic)
Here's the forecast for each day.

Saturday, Nov. 21

Possible travel trouble spots: A compact low pressure system will bring snow and gusty winds to the Great Lakes and rain, possibly changing to snow, to the Ohio Valley. Scattered showers and storms possible in the Florida Peninsula and along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisana.
Major airports impacted: Chicago, Milwaukee (snow); Detroit (rain and snow); Houston, Miami (scattered showers and storms)
Major highways impacted: Interstate 94 in Wisconsin, Illinois, northwest Indiana and Michigan (snow or rain changing to snow); Interstate 75 in Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan (rain changes to snow as you travel north); Interstate 80/90 in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois (snow and rain); Interstate 70 from Ohio through Illinois (rain to snow); Interstate 10 in Louisiana and southeast Texas (showers and storms); Interstate 95 and 75 in Florida (showers and storms).

Saturday's Forecast

Sunday, Nov. 22

Possible travel trouble spots: Bands of lake-effect snow may impact locations east and southeast of Lakes Erie and Ontario as low pressure moves into eastern Canada. Snow showers are possible in the Appalachians from northern New England to West Virginia from the same low pressure system. Coastal New England may see a few rain showers early. Scattered showers and storms possible from the Carolinas into Florida along a stalled front.
Major airports impacted: Boston (rain) ; Miami and Orlando (scattered showers/storms)
Major highways impacted: Interstate 90 in west New York, and northwest Pennsylvania (snow); Interstate 95 in southern New England, Florida, southeast Georgia and the Carolinas (rain).

Sunday's Forecast

Monday, Nov. 23

Possible travel trouble spots: Overall, the vast majority of the country will have good travel conditions. Scattered showers and mountain snow may move into the Pacific Northwest as a new weather system approaches. Showers possible along the Southeast coast from an offshore low pressure system.
Major airports impacts: Seattle and Portland (rain showers, but no major impacts)
Major highways impacted: Interstate 5 in Washington and Oregon (showers).

Monday's Forecast

Tuesday, Nov. 24

Possible travel trouble spots: A new storm system will continue to push into the Pacific Northwest, bringing rain and snow to parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, northern California and northern Nevada. This is a cold weather system, so snow is possible in lower elevations including parts of the Interstate 5 corridor. Elsewhere, some showers may develop in Texas.
Major airports impacted: Portland and Seattle (rain); San Francisco (wind)
Major highways impacted: Interstate 5 from northern California to Washington (rain possibly mixed with snow or changing to snow); Interstate 90 in Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana (snow or rain/snow mix); Interstate 35 in Texas (showers possible).

Tuesday's Forecast

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Possible travel trouble spots: A cold southward dip in the jet stream continues to dive through the West. As a result, snow will fall in several states in the region – from California's Sierra Nevada and parts of Oregon into Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and the Colorado Rockies. Some of this snow may begin to spread into the western Dakotas. Ahead of that storm system, increasing moisture will result in scattered showers, drizzle and low clouds from Texas to parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Major airports impacted: Salt Lake City (rain and snow possible); Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City (low clouds, rain showers); Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City (uncertain, but low clouds, fog, drizzle possible)
Major highways impacted: Interstate 70 in parts of Colorado and Utah (snow possible); Interstate 80 in parts of Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California's Sierra Nevada (snow possible); Interstate 90 in Wyoming and Montana (snow possible); Interstate 15 from Utah to Montana (snow); Interstate 35 from Texas to Missouri (scattered rain showers); Interstate 10 and 20 in Texas (rain showers possible).

Wednesday's Forecast

Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26

Possible travel trouble spots: The western storm system begins to push into the nation's midsection where a swath of rain and thunderstorms will expand from the Upper Midwest into the south-central states. Snow expected in the cold air behind the storm from the Dakotas to Montana. Lingering snow also expected in parts of the Rockies. Quiet weather conditions persist in much of the East.
Major airports impacted: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago (low clouds, rain showers)
Major highways impacted: Interstate 35 from Texas to Minnesota (rain showers possible); Interstate 94 in Illinois, Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota (rain showers); Interstate 94 from northwest Minnesota to North Dakota and Montana (snow); Interstate 80 in Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska (rain showers); Interstate 70 in Missouri and Kansas (rain showers); Interstate 40 in Arkansas and Oklahoma (rain showers); Interstate 20 and 10 in Texas (rain showers).

Thanksgiving Day Forecast

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