Snow is forecast to spark travel chaos over Thanksgiving, with three huge winter storms bringing freezing conditions, rain and strong winds across the United States, just as millions try to get home to visit family for the holiday.
Large swathes of the country are set to be battered by the bad weather, with forecasters predicting one storm hitting the East on Sunday, another in the Midwest come Tuesday and the third hitting the West by Wednesday.
The West Coast could see several feet of snow across the mountains by Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year, Accuweather warns. It could even reach as far as the Peninsular Mountains in Southern California, meteorologists say.
For the Midwest Tuesday into Wednesday is forecast to be the worst time for travel. Wisconsin and Michigan could see heavy snow by Tuesday.
Forecasters predict three huge winter storms could bring freezing conditions, rain and strong winds across the United States just in time for the millions travelling home for Thanksgiving. Snowfall is predicted across the Midwest throughout the week
High winds are also expected to spark travel chaos for many by Wednesday, which is said to be the busiest travel day of the year. The gusty weather could also spell problems for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with their iconic balloons forced to be grounded
The West Coast could see several feet of snow across the mountains by Wednesday. By Wednesday Arizona could see snow, as could New Mexico, the northern Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma Panhandle. The storm is expected to move into the central Plains by midweek
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said: ‘At this time, enough snow to create winterlike travel is anticipated from central and northeastern Colorado to much of Nebraska, northern Kansas, much of Iowa, northwestern Missouri, northwestern Illinois, southeastern Minnesota, central and eastern Wisconsin and northern Michigan.’
He added: ‘Enough snow to shovel and plow is anticipated in this swath.’
By Wednesday Arizona could see snow, as could New Mexico, the northern Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma Panhandle. The storm is expected to move into the central Plains by midweek.
It is then forecast to move towards the East Coast, affecting those trying to head back home after Thanksgiving.
Philadelphia, New York City and Boston will likely see heavy rain. Northern New England to northern Maine may well see heavy snow.
High winds could also spell problems for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with their iconic balloons forced to be grounded.
The gusts are forecast to increase around the eastern Great Lakes during Tuesday night and become strong and gusty over much of the Northeast from Wednesday afternoon into Thanksgiving Day, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Meteorologist Bill Deger posted this image on Sunday, writing: ‘1-2” of #snow is blanketing Happy Valley this morning.’
Large swathes of the country are set to be battered by the bad weather, with forecasters predicting one storm hitting the East on Sunday, another in the Midwest come Tuesday and the third hitting the West by Wednesday
Commuters walk in the snow in Chicago earlier this month. For the Midwest Tuesday into Wednesday is forecast to be the worst time for travel. Wisconsin and Michigan could see heavy snow by Tuesday
The high winds could see travel in and out of Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. affected.
And that comes just as Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Houston and San Francisco could see three times more than their normal traffic flow over the week, CNN reports.
‘During episodes of strong, gusty winds, officials must space out the arriving and departing aircraft,’ Sosnowski said. ‘This can cause flight delays and cancellations to increase exponentially during the heavy volume of holiday travelers.’
Forecasters are warning of a severe thunder storm across the south on Tuesday
A storm early in the week on the west coast is set to move from southern Oregon and Northern California into Arizona and Utah by Thursday.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson said: ‘This storm threatens to bring rain and mountain snow to much of California, including places like San Francisco and Sacramento, places that were largely spared by the past week’s rain.’
In the Pacific Northwest coastal rain and mountain snow could fall on Wednesday and on Thanksgiving Day. The wet weather is also expected to hit California and Georgia, USA Today reports.