Winter weather threatens Thanksgiving travel and parades

An impactful storm system is poised to disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans and holiday festivities across multiple regions of the United States, with particular concerns for major parades and travel hubs in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, according to forecasters.

This year’s holiday is expected to see record-breaking travel numbers, with AAA projecting 79.9 million Americans taking to the roads and skies throughout the week.

However, the developing weather system could bring strong wind, heavy rain and accumulating snow to parts of the country during Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Holiday Parades at Risk

The storm threatens to impact major Thanksgiving Day parades, notably in New York and Philadelphia.

Even if the cold Canadian air mass is delayed in its southward progression, the combination of drenching rain and strong winds could create hazardous conditions.

“A storm has the potential to snarl transit for those even traveling locally across portions of the Midwest and Northeast on Thanksgiving Day, even those chasing Black Friday deals could contend with travel challenges,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said in a statement.

Wind gusts up to 20 mph are possible from the Tennessee Valley to the Virginia coastline. While these speeds might seem modest, they pose significant risks for parade operations—particularly for the handling of large balloons.

Balloon operations could become unsafe if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or gusts reach 34 mph, according to AccuWeather.

Snow Potential Across Northeast

Interior portions of the Northeast face the possibility of snow accumulation if the storm’s path draws sufficiently northward into the cold air mass.

The situation could be enhanced by an approaching dip in the jet stream, which may help drive colder air southward across the region.

“The possibility may still remain for some to wake up to a white Thanksgiving or see snowflakes fly in areas that typically do not see snow for the late-November holiday,” Roys said.

Even areas around the Great Lakes could experience snowfall by the following weekend.

Impact on Holiday Weekend Plans

The storm’s influence may extend beyond Thanksgiving Day, potentially affecting Black Friday shopping and return travel plans.

The eventual impact depends heavily on which storm scenario materializes—a faster-moving system could lead to improved conditions by the weekend, while a slower-moving storm might linger along the Northeast coast for several days.

Travelers returning home after the holiday should stay alert for possible flight delays or cancellations throughout the extended weekend.

Western States Face Continued Storm Activity

The West Coast continues to grapple with challenging weather conditions, though less severe than last week’s bomb cyclone—where a storm’s pressure drops quickly, which intensifies the storm and ramps up wind gusts.

A new system will bring substantial precipitation, shifting further south than previous storms. Central California can expect soaking rains, primarily on Tuesday, while mountain regions will face significant snowfall accumulations.

The storm system will advance eastward, bringing heavy snow to Utah’s Wasatch Range and the Colorado Rockies. Eastern Idaho and western Wyoming will also experience snowfall.

While snowfall totals may be lower than in California, mountain peaks could still see accumulations of several feet.

“One tricky travel area will be in and around the Denver area as snow spreads across the area on Wednesday, where 1-3 inches of snow is expected to fall,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Emma Belscher said in a statement.

However, conditions are expected to improve by Thanksgiving Day as the system moves eastward.

Plains Region: Mixed Conditions Midweek

The Plains states will experience a gradual transition in weather conditions throughout the week. Tuesday promises relatively smooth travel conditions with minimal precipitation and only light winds.

However, as Wednesday approaches, the Rocky Mountain storm system will begin to influence the region.

While most of Wednesday will remain dry across the Plains, parts of Kansas could see snow developing by afternoon. Though travel conditions will deteriorate compared to Tuesday, they are expected to be less challenging than in western regions.

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