Uncooperative weather is forecast for parts of the country during Thanksgiving week, with significant travel disruptions possible, particularly during the post-holiday weekend. Travelers on Saturday and Sunday are advised to monitor forecasts closely, as delays and slower traffic are anticipated across the Central and Eastern U.S.
### Wednesday
As the peak travel day begins, showers preceding a cold front could cause flight delays at major Northeast hubs, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
In the Upper Midwest, Winter Storm Alston is expected to create hazardous conditions with heavy snow and blizzard-like weather persisting through the morning. A difficult commute is likely in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, with potential flight delays at MSP International Airport. Snow and high winds will also spread across Wisconsin, with light accumulations possible as far south as Madison and Milwaukee, creating slippery roads. Gusty winds may sustain blizzard conditions even after snowfall ceases.
Heavy lake-effect snow and strong winds will shift from the western Great Lakes to the eastern snowbelts overnight, affecting areas from northern Michigan to upstate New York and making travel dangerous.
Meanwhile, parts of the northern Rockies could see morning snow, and the Pacific Northwest will experience scattered showers, with steadier rain developing in western Washington by evening.
### Thanksgiving Day
Persistent bands of heavy lake-effect snow and strong winds will continue to impact the Great Lakes snowbelts. Whiteout conditions are possible along stretches of I-90 from Cleveland to Buffalo, I-81 north of Syracuse, and major interstates in northern Indiana and western Michigan.
In the Northwest, snow is forecast for the far northern Rockies, while western Washington and Oregon can expect showers and gusty winds, potentially affecting travel in and out of Seattle.
### Black Friday
Lake-effect snow will continue to produce dangerous travel conditions, primarily in the eastern Great Lakes snowbelts. Some wrap-around snow showers are also possible in northern New England.
A separate system will spread snow from Montana into the Northern Plains, reaching the Dakotas and the Missouri Valley. By Friday night, this snow may move into parts of the upper Midwest.
In the South, showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop from Kansas and Missouri into Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Heavy rainfall could lead to nighttime flight delays at major hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
### Saturday
A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is forecast to move through the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes. This system could cause slippery road conditions and flight delays at major airports, including Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
Simultaneously, thunderstorms with heavy rain will track across the South, from Oklahoma and Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley. The activity, which may include some severe weather, could trigger local flash flooding in already saturated areas and cause further flight delays in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
### Sunday
While the forecast for Sunday has some uncertainty, current models indicate a significant weather system will impact the eastern U.S. Rain is expected to spread across the East Coast, potentially causing significant flight delays at major hubs from Atlanta to Boston. Some snow is possible in the interior Northeast, while lake-effect snowbands may redevelop in the western Great Lakes.
The rain could also extend into the Southeast and Gulf Coast, affecting travel through Houston and New Orleans. Farther west, a separate system could bring snow to the central and southern Rockies and adjacent High Plains, with showers possible as far west as Arizona. Forecasters will refine this outlook as the weekend approaches.
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