United States: As millions of Americans hit the road or take to the skies for Thanksgiving, severe weather and a blast of Arctic cold are expected to cause disruptions and bring dangerous conditions across much of the country.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an alert, forecasting a range of hazardous weather, including “dangerous wind chills, lake effect snow, and severe thunderstorms.”
The Arctic outbreak is expected to first hit the Northern Rockies, affecting parts of Idaho, Montana, and Washington state, before advancing into the Northern Plains on Thursday.
This is advance notice if traveling #Thanksgiving Ahead of a strong cold front, warm/moist air will result in somewhat unstable conditions. Depending on timing of the front & how warm it is (forecast is mid-upper 70s) there could be a few strong or #severe t-storms w/ gusty wind. pic.twitter.com/qJBgWBahWB
— NWS Charleston, SC (@NWSCharlestonSC) November 26, 2024
By the weekend, the cold front is predicted to sweep into the Midwest. Cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and Kansas City are expected to experience below-freezing temperatures by Friday, although forecasters are not expecting record-breaking cold.
In addition to the Arctic chill, forecasters warned of severe thunderstorms in the Southeast, with heavy rain predicted for wide stretches of the country. In the East, Thanksgiving Day could bring rain and possibly snow to regions like New York, with strong winds posing a threat to the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The cold front moving eastward is expected to send blasts of frigid air, along with snow, across the Midwest, East Coast, and Southeast.
Meteorologists have raised concerns about overnight freezing temperatures reaching as far south as the Gulf Coast and northern Florida, which could risk citrus crops.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods in the US, with approximately 80 million people expected to travel at least 50 miles, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The inclement weather, including snow and rain along the East Coast, could lead to highway congestion, especially along major interstates. Travelers heading to airports could also see disruptions, though air travel has largely remained unaffected so far.
With millions on the move this holiday, travellers are urged to check weather forecasts and prepare for potentially challenging conditions as they make their way to family gatherings this Thanksgiving.
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