Millions of Americans across the country are starting to pack on roads and airports ahead of Thanksgiving, but a powerful storm moving from coast to coast is disrupting pre-holiday and homecoming celebrations with family and friends. Travel may be disrupted for those employed.
During the first half of the busy Thanksgiving travel week, storms will dump rain and mountain snow in the West, while rain, freezing rain and snow will fall in the eastern half of the country.
If that wasn't enough to dampen the holiday spirit, the FOX Forecast Center predicts another winter that could significantly impact travel in the Northeast as millions prepare to return home. tracking the storm.
The FOX Prediction Center said the last of a series of low-pressure systems is moving across the West Coast and into the Rocky Mountains, bringing wintry weather and rain to the region.
A significant winter storm will bring heavy snow to parts of Colorado and Utah.
Snowfall is expected to reach up to 3 feet at the highest elevations, making travel over the mountain passes extremely difficult if not impossible, and winter storm warnings are in effect across the region.
By Wednesday, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Denver could all see some form of precipitation.
However, the FOX Forecast Center does not expect any major impact on Denver at this time.
A winter weather advisory predicts up to 2 to 4 inches of snow in places in the Mile High City Wednesday morning, which could disrupt the morning commute.
Conditions could worsen on major highways like Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 before the system moves out of the area before Thanksgiving.
Winds were blowing and temperatures dropped into the 20s on the Great Lakes. Areas like north-central Wisconsin could see snow on Thanksgiving.
Winter storms strengthen across the East in time for last-minute Thanksgiving travel
As if pre-Thanksgiving travel troubles weren't enough, the FOX Forecast Center predicts another winter storm will develop on Thanksgiving Day, causing last-minute holiday travel and people shopping or starting travel on Black Friday. We are tracking the situation where delays are expected to occur. house.
This is all because of the winter storm that is hitting the West. Weather looks mild in the East on Wednesday, but by Thursday the system will move through the Midwest and Ohio Valley and into the Northeast.
The FOX Prediction Center is forecasting a series of rain and thunderstorms across the Southeast and Tennessee Valley on Thursday.
Some of these storms could become severe with damaging wind gusts.
To the north, more heavy rain is possible over parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast into Thursday night.
The FOX Forecast Center said the system will strengthen as it approaches the region and begin to pick up winds, potentially causing delays at airports in Washington, Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia.
Snow will begin to fall from the Midwest to New England north of the low-pressure system.
The cold air will initially be limited as it leaves the Midwest, but as the low pressure system strengthens it will draw in colder air from Canada.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, snowfall is expected to be low except in some inland areas of the Northeast.
Further heavy snow accumulation is possible in the region, especially in higher elevations.
Low-lying offshore snow is likely in upstate New York, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire into Thursday night.
Snow is also likely to accumulate in New York cities such as Syracuse, Buffalo and Binghamton.
And as if heavy snow and storms weren't enough to ruin the holidays, some of the coldest air of the season will invade the United States starting Thanksgiving and lasting into early next month.
As the Thanksgiving Day winter storm moves out of the Northeast, it could pull in even colder arctic air from Canada and spread south into the Southeast.
By Friday, more than 230 million Americans will be shivering in below-average temperatures.
