Winter Storm Map Shows Areas Possibly Getting Hit for Thanksgiving

Several states are expecting snow before and on Thanksgiving, which could disrupt plans for some holiday travelers.
Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, according to AAA, and the snow forecast could prove disruptive for those traveling to see their families by plane or car. There’s a slight risk for heavy snow in the Pacific Northwest, some of the central U.S., the Northeast and the Great Lakes region during the holiday week, including Turkey Day itself, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center.
“Increased risk for an active pattern and anomalous cold to impact Thanksgiving travelers,” the center posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday afternoon. “Above normal precipitation is favored for most of the Lower 48 States with below normal temperatures overspreading the West and Plains.”
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According to a forecast issued on Monday afternoon, the NWS center predicts a slight risk of heavy snow from Washington through Oregon and into central California from November 26 to November 28. The forecast for additional heavy snow arrived after all three states have been battling an influx of precipitation as atmospheric rivers have pummeled the region this week and last week.
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A slight risk of heavy snow from November 26 to November 28 also is in place for the central U.S., including western Montana, eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, northeastern Utah and north-central Colorado.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines told Newsweek that weather will likely have the greatest impact on travel in the Pacific Northwest. Further inland, he said, the snow likely won’t impact the Denver travel hub, as the snowstorms are expected farther west.
“It’ll be a really good holiday weekend for skiers out west,” he said.
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In the Great Lakes region, eastern North Dakota east through Minnesota, Wisconsin and into Michigan are labeled as having a slight risk of snow from November 28 to November 30. Northeastern states hold a similar risk for the same time period, including New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Regions farther south risk heavy precipitation, as temperatures could be too warm for snow, according to the forecast. Some parts of the Midwest and Mississippi Valley are expecting heavy precipitation.
As far as the temperature outlook, the Northwest is expecting below-average temperatures over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the NWS center’s forecast. The greatest chance at below-average temperatures will be in Montana and North Dakota. Average temperatures are expected for much of the central U.S., with above-average temperatures forecast for the Southeast.
It’s still too soon for travelers to adjust their plans, Kines said, as forecasts have plenty of time to shift.