Forecasters say a weekend snowstorm could create hazardous Thanksgiving travel conditions across a sizable portion of the U.S. later this week.
Why It Matters
Meteorologists have warned that heavy snow from the system could make post-Thanksgiving travel tricky across parts of the Upper Midwest—as the American Automobile Association expects upward of 80 million people to travel for the holiday.
What To Know
The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said that the storm could develop over the northern and central Rockies and track across the central Plains into the Upper Midwest early this weekend.
According to the agency, snow will start across the northern Rockies on Friday night, then spread through the central Rockies and into the central Plains on Saturday, reaching the Upper Midwest by late Saturday into Sunday.
A notable swathe of accumulating snow is likely across the central Plains into the Upper Midwest, the WPC said, “with over 50 percent chance of greater than 6 inches of snowfall possible across the region.”
“A storm over the long holiday weekend is expected to spread snow from the Rockies on Friday to the Midwest on Saturday. Snow could reach parts of the interior Northeast on Sunday,” AccuWeather vice president of forecasting operations Dan DePodwin said in an advisory shared with Newsweek on Tuesday.
“In many locations, such as Omaha, Des Moines, and Kansas City, this may be the first plowable snow event of the season, coinciding with a busy travel period. The first measurable snowfall of the season for Denver may finally arrive this weekend.”
Travel conditions could be very poor from Friday night through Saturday night, with slick, snow-covered roads from Kansas and Nebraska east to Illinois and Michigan, AccuWeather said. Major airports in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit may see flight delays and cancellations on Saturday and Sunday, it added.
What People Are Saying
Meteorologist Noah Bergren said on X, Tuesday: “Another big storm sets up Saturday into Sunday with rain and strong thunderstorms from Arkansas to Kentucky, and heavy snow from Chicago to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Could be a widespread 6-12 inches snowfall from northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan if you are traveling back from Thanksgiving later this weekend.”
Meteorologist Chris Bruin said in a post on X, Tuesday: “Traveling the weekend after Thanksgiving looks anything but smooth. Major snowstorm in the works.”
What Happens Next
For local forecasts, the NWS issues regular updates on its website and social media channels.