Thanksgiving Travel Outlook: A Few Travel Headaches Expected

Thanksgiving has arrived, which mean some of the busiest travel days of the year are here. While most of the nation quiets down for Turkey Day, Mother Nature still has a few tricks up her sleeves.
  
Thanksgiving Day
A low pressure system will continue to drift to the northeast into southeastern Canada for Thanksgiving Day. Any moisture from the low pressure system will be limited to the Great Lakes. Given a persistent northwesterly flow, there will be lake enhancement with any snow that falls.

Most of the Great Lakes will just see occasional flurries or light snow showers throughout the day. Depending on the exact wind direction, heavier snowfall is expected, especially across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, western Michigan, northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York immediately near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Breezy to strong winds will persist on Thanksgiving Day across the Great Lakes and Northeast. Winds will gust between 30 and 40 mph.

Great Lakes Travel Impacts include:

• Slick, icy to snow-packed roads are expected where the heaviest lake-effect snow occurs. This would include Interstate 90 from Cleveland to Buffalo, N.Y., Interstate 81 in western New York towards Watertown and parts of Interstates 94, 96 and 196 in Michigan. Blowing and some drifting snow will also be a possibility.
• With the potential for breezy winds, areas in the western parts of the Northeast that stay dry could also need slower speeds at times if driving, including on stretches of Interstates 81, 84, 86, 87, 88 and 90.

At the same time, the cold front associated with this low pressure in southeastern Canada will be draped over Florida. Occasional rain showers and a rumble of thunder will be likely, mainly for central and southern Florida. 

Florida Travel Impacts include:

• Minimal travel impacts are expected. There could be some damp to wet spots on roadways.
• Some minor air travel delays will be possible, including in Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

On the opposite side of the nation, a weather system will slowly enter the Northwest on Thanksgiving Day. This will bring in moisture from west-to-east throughout the day to much of the Northwest and northern Rockies. Precipitation will generally be limited to the Northwest in the morning, which will spread to the northern Rockies in the afternoon and evening.

Expect rain across much of Washington and western/northern Oregon. Though, the tallest peaks of the northern Cascades and far northern Washington will see snow or a rain/snow mix. Northern Idaho and northwestern Montana could just have rain or a rain/snow mix, but snow is expected closer to the U.S.-Canada border. Light to moderate snow will fall across the rest of Montana, with perhaps some flurries or light snow in northwestern Wyoming.

Northwest U.S. Travel Impacts include:

• Given relatively warm air temperatures, all roads will likely just be wet throughout Thanksgiving Day. Though, some slick/icy spots could develop on the highest mountain passes on Interstate 90 in Washington State, Idaho and western Montana as well as Interstate 5 in southwestern Montana. The best chance for slick/icy spots will be in the evening.
• Any wet roads in the Cascades and northern Rockies will also have the potential to freeze overnight and form black ice.
• There could be some minor air travel delays in and out of Seattle.

Check back frequently to WeatherBug for travel updates for the Thanksgiving holiday. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!