Thanksgiving week is quickly approaching and it looks like it will be a cold and snowy one for many parts of the United States. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the “polar vortex,” an area of frigid air around the Arctic, will expand southwards and bring much colder-than-normal temperatures across a large portion of the country. This is in contrast to the mild and rainy weather expected in the central U. S. early in the week.
AAA is also forecasting record road traffic over the holiday period, with nearly 82 million people expected to travel at least 50 miles from home. The majority of these travelers, about 9 out of 10, will be driving to their Thanksgiving destinations. Gas prices are expected to be similar to last year’s prices, with the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline at $3. 07 on Monday.
For those traveling by air, Airlines for America, the industry lobby group, estimates that U. S. airlines will fly 2. 8 million passengers per day during the holiday period. The busiest days for air travel are expected to be Saturday, November 29th through Monday, December 1st, with each day topping 3 million passengers.
The NWS has provided a detailed forecast for each day of the holiday week. On Monday, the Arklatex region can expect “robust thunderstorms with heavy downpours,” while a clipper system will bring high winds and snow to the northern plains and upper Great Lakes on Tuesday. Wednesday will bring blustery conditions and accumulating snow to the upper Midwest, and Thursday will see much colder conditions arrive for the eastern U. S. , along with heavy lake effect snow from Michigan to New York state.
On Friday, moderate to heavy lake effect snow is expected to continue in the same areas, potentially bringing 6-12+ inches of snow accumulation. Saturday will bring widespread snowfall to the northern Plains and heavy snow in the central Rockies, while showers and thunderstorms are expected to intensify in the Texas Gulf coast and Mid-South regions. Finally, on Sunday, heavier rainfall is likely in the Mid-South.
With these weather conditions expected, travelers should be prepared for potential delays and disruptions, especially those driving or flying through the affected areas. It is important to stay updated on weather forecasts and travel advisories, and to allow extra time for travel to account for any potential delays.