If you were hoping for a breezy, stress-free Thanksgiving travel weekend, the atmosphere has other plans.
A parade of storms is lining up to march across the country next week and AccuWeather meteorologists say the timing couldn’t be worse: right as millions of travelers hit the roads and airports for one of the busiest holidays of the year.
Starting on Monday, stormy weather will move into the southern Plains and northwest, bringing along with it rain, fog, snow and gusty winds. AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok warns that “major travel headaches” are likely, especially for drivers navigating snowy stretches of the midwest and northwest. Flyers should prepare for early week delays out of Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and New York—because nothing says “holiday spirit” like a terminal of tense passengers.
By Tuesday, the storm will move east. Downpours and severe thunderstorms may sweep from eastern Texas to the Ohio Valley, while winter weather settles into parts of the Rockies and High Plains. Snow may pile up from Montana through Wyoming and into western Nebraska and Colorado. Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Houston, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh are all in the storm’s splash zone, meaning ripple-effect delays could spread nationwide.
Wednesday—the busiest travel day—is when things get really messy. Rain is expected to slow traffic in already-congested corridors from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, with reduced visibility and slick roads possibly causing significant issues. Thunderstorms in the Southeast may disrupt flights in Atlanta and Charlotte, while lake-effect snow builds across the Great Lakes.
The good news is that Thanksgiving morning itself looks relatively parade-friendly. Winds in New York City and Philadelphia are expected to stay tame enough to keep Snoopy, Pikachu and friends aloft. If the cold front speeds up, gusts may kick in earlier, but current forecast models keep balloon-threatening winds at bay until later in the day.
In short: pack patience and maybe a backup plan. The skies are feeling very... festive.