More than 51 million of us are about to or have already embarked on the great migration that occurs each year during Thanksgiving week. And with other factors already lined up to cause travel headaches, it’s nice to know that weather won’t be one of them for a majority of the country.
There are a few tough spots, though, particularly in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest. And if you’re going to be around the Great Lakes this week, be aware of lake-effect snow bands.
Let’s break it down.
East
Tuesday: No problems in the East. Warm to the south, with afternoon temperatures in the 60s in Virginia and the Carolinas. Temps will be in the 50s with lots of sunshine up and down the Interstate 95 corridor. Shower chances increase in the lower Great Lakes/Ohio valley region as well as along the Carolinas and eventually up into the Mid-Atlantic in the evening and overnight.
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Wednesday: Parts of Wednesday morning could be wet, especially east of the I-95 corridor from Virginia up into New Jersey and north into eastern New England. Most places dry out after that, but rain showers linger into the afternoon and southern New England. Lake-effect snow showers whiten the landscape in Upstate New York and northern New England.
Turkey Day: Rather tranquil and chilly eastern region on the holiday itself. Temperatures will be coldest in Upstate New York and New England, only topping out in the 30s and low 40s. Not quite as cold, but chilly nonetheless, with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s in the Mid-Atlantic and in the 50s for the Carolinas.
North
Tuesday: It will be a cold and blustery (frigid even in some parts) for the central region states. Snow showers are possible in the far Upper Midwest, including the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern Wisconsin and northern Minnesota. Widespread 30s and 40s for temperatures, with some blustery northwest winds as a potent cold front moves through the region.
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Wednesday: Another high and dry day, ideal for travel purposes. Light lake-effect snow is possible off the Great Lakes. Winds should relax, but temperatures won’t climb much under a large dome of high pressure. Temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and afternoon highs won’t break 40 degrees for a majority of the region. The sole warm spot will be in the Great Plains, where temperatures will warm up into the 50s.
Turkey Day: High pressure won’t back down through Thanksgiving Day, keeping a wide swath of the middle of the country sunny and cold. It won’t be as cold or as windy as Tuesday or Wednesday, but it’ll be a still cold nonetheless.
South
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms are likely in Florida and along parts of the Gulf Coast by the afternoon. Shower activity will extend into parts of the southeast as well, which may cause a slight disruption in air traffic for a time. If nothing else, it will be warm, with lots of temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s.
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Wednesday: The cool air will make it all the way to the Gulf Coast by Wednesday, keeping high temperatures only in the 50s from Texas up through Tennessee. Clouds and more mild air (temperatures in the 60s and 70s) will linger across the Alabama and Georgia. Scattered afternoon showers are possible in Georgia and Florida.
Turkey Day: Even the Deep South won’t escape the cool conditions on Thanksgiving. After a cold start, temperatures will peak in the 50s and low 60s, some 5 to 10 degrees below normal in some locations. Only Florida stays warm, albeit with another day of rain.
West
Tuesday: It’s hot in California, Arizona and New Mexico, where high temperatures will be in the upper 70s to low 80s, and seasonable temperatures for Las Vegas up into the Rockies. The real travel trouble spot will be in the Pacific Northwest, where coastal rain and mountain snow will persist for much of the day in as a Pineapple Express storm pumps the moisture in.
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Wednesday: Hot in the Southwest, stormy in the Northwest. Places such as Los Angeles and Phoenix will be baking, while Portland, Seattle and Northern California stay wet. Those lucky enough to spend their holidays in the Rockies or Sierras will have excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions.
Turkey Day: While Phoenix may break its record for the hottest Thanksgiving, intermittent rain and snow will continue in the Pacific Northwest, spreading inland to the upper Rockies by the holiday. Even without the record heat, it’s still pretty warm across the region as a whole, with highs in the 50s and 60s extending all the way into Montana.
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