Thanksgiving Travel Outlook: Travel Headaches For Both Coasts | WeatherBug

As you head out for your Thanksgiving plans, two low pressure systems on both coasts will create a few travel headaches through the end of the weekend. A new weather system could also bring some minor impacts to the north-central U.S. by Sunday.

Friday

Two pesky low pressure systems will impact both coasts on Friday. One will be centered over the Northeast, while the other hovers just off the Northwest. Both will bring rainy, wintry weather, strong winds and some travel impacts. Across the Northeast and Northwest, winds will likely generally gust between 40 and 50 mph. However, along the immediate coast of the Northwest and the tallest elevations could see locally higher wind gusts of 60 mph or more.

Occasional rain showers will soak the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley throughout the day, with a smaller chance of showers in the Great Lakes. Temperatures will be cold enough for wet snow or a rain/snow mix along the Appalachians as well as the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and the Highlands in New Jersey. Most snow accumulation will occur early in the day, with improving road conditions during the afternoon and evening. However, isolated areas could see wet roads freeze after sunset and turn to black ice.

Northeast travel impacts include:

• Icy and snowy roads throughout the day, slight improvements in the afternoon and evening for Interstate 81 from Virginia into New York.
• High winds likely could create blowing and drifting snow on roadways as well as lowered visibility. These wind conditions could also make for tough travel in areas that just see rain.
• Wet roads elsewhere, including Interstates 70, 80 and 95.
• Slight chance for black ice to develop, mainly throughout Pennsylvania and southern New York, including parts of Interstates 70, 80, 81, 84, 86, 87 and 88.
• Minor airport delays possible, including in Boston, New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Cleveland.

Meanwhile, waves of rain and mountain snow will occur throughout the day and Friday night for the Northwest, the northern half of California and the northern Rockies. Some light freezing rain also cannot be ruled out in the higher elevations, best chance in the morning. The highest snowfall totals will be in the Sierra Nevada, with accumulation also occurring in the Cascades and the higher elevations of the Rockies.

Western U.S. travel impacts include:

• Icy, snowy roads for parts of Interstates 15, 80, 84 and 90 in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, California and western Nevada.
• High winds likely could create blowing and drifting snow on roadways as well as lowered visibility. These wind conditions could also make for tough travel in areas that just see rain.
• Wet roads elsewhere, including Interstate 5.
• Watch out for hydroplaning: rounds of moderate to heavy rain will be possible along the coast of Washington and Oregon into northern California. Use appropriate caution when driving on wet roads during heavy rain.
• Minor airport delays possible, including Seattle, Portland, Ore., and San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.

Saturday
The low pressure system in the Northeast will slowly drift into Nova Scotia, while the other weather system advances farther into the Western U.S. Minimal travel impacts are likely for the Northeast, with the main focus of travel impacts shifting to the West.

It will be another windy day across the Northeast and Northwest on Saturday. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will be common in most areas, but locally higher wind gusts are possible.

Light showers are likely across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley in the morning, with rain slowly tapering off from southwest-to-northeast in the afternoon and evening. A few wet snowflakes could mix in with the rain for the central Appalachians. For far northern portions of the Northeast, light to moderate snow will be likely throughout the day.

Northeast travel impacts include:

• Icy, slick roads possible for far northern portions of Interstates 87, 89, 91 and 95.
• Wet spots elsewhere, mainly early in the day.
• No major airport delays expected. Though, breezy winds could create some turbulence.

Frequent rain showers will occur throughout the West Coast into the lower elevations of the interior Northwest and Great Basin. Snow will also be found in the northern Rockies as well as the mountains and higher elevations in the Northwest and Great Basin for the entire day. The heaviest snow will likely fall across the Cascades and Sierra Nevada in the morning, spreading to the northern Rockies in the afternoon and evening.

Western U.S. travel Impacts include:

• Icy, snow-packed roads for most of western Montana, including Interstates 5 and 90, along with the higher portions of Interstates 15, 80, 84 and 90 across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern California, northern Nevada and northern Utah.
• High winds likely could create blowing and drifting snow on roadways as well as lowered visibility. These wind conditions could also make for tough travel in areas that just see rain.
• Wet roads elsewhere, best chance in the morning and afternoon.
• Minor airport delays possible for Seattle, Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

Sunday
The West and Northern Tier will be the places to watch for travel impacts on Sunday. The Northeast will continue to feel lingering effects from the low pressure system drifting into Nova Scotia, while a fast-moving disturbance pushes across the north-central U.S. At the same time, a large surge of Pacific moisture will move into the West thanks to the large storm system overhead.

The interior Northeast could see a few rain and snow showers on Sunday, mainly in the morning and afternoon. Besides some isolated wet spots on roads, no major travel impacts are expected here. However, some gusty winds will continue across New England, which could make it tough to drive in areas and lead to some turbulence if flying.

Light snow or a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain is likely for the far northern Plains during the morning and afternoon, with light to moderate snow spreading to the far Upper Mississippi Valley in the afternoon and evening. Rain is then possible over the slightly warmer Great Lakes at night.

North-central U.S. travel impacts include:

• Icy, snowy roads are possible for northern portions of North Dakota and Minnesota, including some parts of Interstate 94. The best chance would occur after sunset.
• Wet roads possible elsewhere, including Interstates 29, 35, 39 and 90.
• No major airport delays expected.

Occasional rounds of rain and mountain snow are likely throughout the West Coast into the northern and central Rockies on Sunday. The best chance of precipitation will occur along the coast from Washington into the San Francisco Bay area. Some snow could also move into the central High Plains late Sunday night.

Western U.S. travel impacts include:

• Icy, snowy roads at times for the higher elevations of Interstates 15, 80, 84 and 90.
• High winds likely could create blowing and drifting snow on roadways as well as lowered visibility. These wind conditions could also make for tough travel in areas that just see rain.
• A few slick and icy spots are possible for parts of Interstate 25, 70, 76 and 80 in Wyoming and Colorado at night.
• West roads possible elsewhere, including Interstate 5 from San Francisco to Seattle.
• Minor airport delays possible, including in Seattle, Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., and Salt Lake City.

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