Thursday, November 17, 2016

Thanksgiving 2016 Weather Forecast: Here Are Potential Travel Trouble Spots

Chris Dolce
Published: November 17,2016

Thanksgiving is about a week away, but some travelers may be getting an early start to their destinations this weekend.
Here's an early look at travel conditions across the country this weekend into Thanksgiving week as the masses take to the air and roads.
(MORE: Mistakes to Avoid This Thanksgiving)

Saturday's Forecast (Nov. 19)


Saturday's Forecast
Possible travel trouble spots:
  • East: Showers are possible in the eastern Great Lakes and Appalachians ahead of a low pressure system and its associated cold front. In those areas, rain may change to snow Saturday night. Lake-effect snow (possibly heavy) may impact northern/western Michigan, northern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana during the day. Strong winds will also howl through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.
  • West: A Pacific storm system will likely bring rain and mountain snow from northern and central California into Washington state. The interior western region, including the Rockies, will see no travel troubles.
Major airports possibly impacted:
Major highways impacted (partial list):
  • Interstate 5 from Northern California to Washington (rain)
  • Interstate 79 from West Virginia to Pennsylvania (showers possible, changing to snow overnight)
  • Interstate 90 from New York to northern Ohio and northern Indiana (rain changing to snow through the day and overnight)
(MORE: Your Local Forecast)

Sunday's Forecast (Nov. 20)


Sunday's Forecast
Possible travel trouble spots:
  • East: Unsettled weather conditions will likely impact the Northeast region to close out the weekend. Rain is possible in eastern New England, while interior areas from western Pennsylvania to New York and northern New England see snow or rain changing to snow. Very gusty winds will affect the entire Northeast region.
  • West: A Pacific low pressure system will continue to bring rain showers and mountain snow from central California to Washington state. Rain will spread into Southern California and other parts of the Southwest Sunday night.
Major airports possibly impacted:
  • Rain/low clouds: San Francisco, Seattle
  • Snow: Buffalo
  • Wind: Major hubs in the Northeast may see delays from gusty winds.
Major highways impacted (partial list):
  • Interstate 5 from central California to Washington (rain showers possible). I-5 in Southern California will see wet weather Sunday night.
  • Interstate 90 from Massachusetts to northeast Ohio (Snow possible)

Monday's Forecast (Nov. 21)


Monday's Forecast
Possible travel trouble spots:
  • East: The Northeast could see some snow showers across Upstate New York and northern New England. Gusty winds will continue to affect the Northeast region.
  • West: A upper-level weather system swinging into the Southwest will continue rain in southern California and Arizona. This rain will spread into the Four Corners region Monday. Mountain snow and valley rain will continue from coastal portions of Washington and Oregon to the northern Rockies. 
Major airports possibly impacted:
  • Rain/low clouds: Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle 
  • Wind: Some delays due to gusty winds can't be ruled out at major Northeast hubs.
Major highways impacted (partial list):
  • Interstate 5 in Oregon and Washington and Southern California (rain showers possible)
  • Interstate 40 and Interstate 10 from New Mexico to California (rain showers possible)
  • Interstate 81 in New York (snow, wind expected)

Tuesday's Forecast (Nov. 22)


Tuesday's Forecast
Possible travel trouble spots:
  • East: The weather system impacting the Southwest on Monday will shift into the central states on Tuesday. As a result, some rain may impact locations from the Plains into the Mississippi Valley, spreading to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley overnight. There may be enough cold air for snow on the northern fringe of this system in the Upper Midwest and northern Great Lakes.
  • West: Most areas will be dry, but some snow is possible in the central Rockies. Also, the Pacific Northwest will have to contend with more wet weather.
Major airports possibly impacted:
Major highways impacted (partial list):
  • Interstate 5 in Oregon and Washington (rain showers possible)
  • Interstate 35 from north Texas to Minnesota (rain showers possible; may change to snow in Minnesota and northern Iowa through Tuesday night)
  • Interstate 70 from Missouri to Colorado (rain showers possible; snow in Colorado Rockies)
  • Interstate 80 from Illinois to Nebraska (rain showers possible)

Wednesday's Forecast (Nov. 23)


Wednesday's Forecast
Possible travel trouble spots:
  • East: There will be wet weather to contend with in parts of the eastern third of the nation, but exactly where this will be remains uncertain. The potential trouble spots will be dependent on how quickly Tuesday's storm system in the central states moves east.  For now, our forecast shows rain showers from the Great Lakes to parts of the Deep South associated with a cold front. Snow is possible in the northern Great Lakes region.
  • West: More soggy weather conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest potentially as far south as central California.
Major airports possibly impacted:
Major highways impacted (partial list):
  • Interstate 5 from Northern California to Washington state (rain showers possible)
  • Interstate 65 from Alabama to Illinois (rain showers possible)
  • Interstate 70 from Missouri to western Pennsylvania (rain showers possible)
  • Interstate 75 from north Georgia to Michigan (rain showers possible; could change to snow in northern Lower Michigan)
  • Interstate 80/90 from Ohio to Illinois (rain showers possible)
Keep in mind that this initial forecast information is all subject change and we will provide updates and more details in the days to come.

MORE: Vintage Thanksgiving Photos

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