Chicagoans, we’re almost there!
Thanksgiving is a mere few days away, which means it’s time to start hammering out those dreaded travel plans. Whether you’re flying out of town to visit friends and family or opting to drive to your holiday destination, Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be some of the busiest travel days of the year, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.
Compounding the holiday travel stress, AAA (the American Automobile Association) estimates that 81.8 million people will be traveling between Tuesday, November 25, and Monday, December 1—a 1.6 million leap from last year’s estimate. With that in mind, we did some research to figure out what the best time to embark on your journey is.
What is the weather forecast for this Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago?
It’s time to bust out the winter weather gear: After a week of above-average temperatures, Chicago is bracing for a sweeping cold front this Thanksgiving. NBC 5 estimates that temperatures on Thanksgiving and Black Friday will hover around the low-30s.
Chicago could experience polar vortex-esque conditions on or around Thanksgiving day. According to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, “the combined effects from the current La Nina, the Madden-Julian Oscillation, and potential for a rare November Sudden Stratospheric Warming event may usher in a significant pattern change later in the month and into early December.”
To top it off, there’s a chance Chicago could be blanketed by snow by the end of the week. Good thing we’ll likely all be stuffed with turkey and mashed potatoes, sure to keep us warm.
When is the best time to drive out of Chicago in my car on Thanksgiving weekend?
According to AAA, the city’s highways will be the most congested on Tuesday between 11am and 9pm and on Wednesday between 11am and 8pm. If you’re ready to get out of dodge, opt to head out on Tuesday before noon or Wednesday before 11am, when traffic is expected to be lightest. If procrastination is your preferred pace of travel, you’re in luck: minimal traffic is forecasted on Thanksgiving proper.
As for your return back home, AAA warns that the peak congestion will hit on Sunday as drivers make their way home.
No matter what your plans are, stay safe, warm and enjoy the holiday!