Where Storms Could Disrupt Travel For The 2024 Thanksgiving Holiday

With AAA projecting nearly 80 million people traveling 50 or more miles in the week ahead for the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday, those making the trek might want to keep their eye on the forecast as the weather in some parts of the United States could make the trip difficult.

On Monday, the National Weather Service (NWS) shared on X a broad outline for the next couple of days, along with maps showing the high temperature forecast and probability of precipitation on Thanksgiving Day.

“A frontal system will drive weather in the eastern quarter of the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day, bringing a good shot of rain,” the post said. “Farther west in the northern plains, cold temperatures will be the rule of the day, with readings as much as 25°F below normal for this time of the year.”

A frontal system will drive weather in the eastern quarter of the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day, bringing a good shot of rain. Farther west in the northern plains, cold temperatures will be the rule of the day, with readings as much as 25°F below normal for this time of the year. How… pic.twitter.com/0r3MvTZnca

— National Weather Service (@NWS) November 25, 2024

Snow is not out of the question, however.

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AccuWeather forecasters reported that the eastern part of the U.S. might get accumulating snow to the Ohio Valley and Northeast, while Meteorologist Ryan Maue said the Thanksgiving Day storm system “should drop 3-6 [inches] of snowfall across roads from Ohio to Pennsylvania into New York and England.”

Thanksgiving Day storm system should drop 3-6" of snowfall across roads from Ohio to Pennsylvania into New York and England. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/YDo1BW2rJw

— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) November 25, 2024

Other places, including Chicago, could also get some fresh powder.

NWS said that heavy snow is expected to fall early this week in the higher-elevation areas of the western United States and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. And in Colorado, its Boulder office noted that a “major winter storm” bringing up 1-2 feet of snow would impact the mountains through Wednesday.

A major winter storm will impact the mountains beginning late tonight. Snow will be heavy through Tue night, lighter Wed.

1-2 ft totals are expected for the highest elevations. Expect significant travel disruptions and road closures. Here's a forecast for major roadways ???? #COwx pic.twitter.com/LciRjAcp3l

— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) November 25, 2024

The Pacific Northwest is still reeling after a so-called “bomb cyclone” and its “atmospheric river” hammered parts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. A handful of people were killed, and power was knocked out for hundreds of thousands of customers.

California has more inclement weather ahead. The NWS office in Sacramento said a Winter Storm Warning was in effect for higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada mountains through Wednesday morning.

Expect chilly weather across much of the country in the post-Thanksgiving travel period.

Last week, the NWS said a broad area of low pressure was forecast to “dominate” the lower 48 states, bringing increased risk for cold and “unsettled weather,” including “hazardous cold” in the Northern Plains, strong winds across much of the East, and heavy snow in parts of the Great Lakes and Interior Northwest.

Increased risk for cold and unsettled weather for the post-Thanksgiving travel period https://t.co/SVsQsPxEEx pic.twitter.com/IXHwO0nKNM

— NWS Climate Prediction Center (@NWSCPC) November 21, 2024

The NWS advised Thanksgiving travelers to “stay updated on this evolving situation” by checking the latest forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center, Weather Prediction Center, and local NWS forecast offices.

Beyond the weather, holiday travelers heading to and from North Carolina might need to contend with disarray caused by Charlotte Douglas International Airport service workers beginning a strike over wages on Monday.