Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day Weather Headaches

Rapidly deteriorating travel conditions are causing problems for travelers heading out for the Thanksgiving holiday. A mix of severe storms, blizzard conditions, high winds, and thick fog is triggering mounting travel delays for the eastern half of the U.S. Here is what you need to know about the weather heading into Thanksgiving Eve.

Blizzard Conditions and Atmospheric River Major Stories for Wednesday's Forecast

Forecasters are painting a grim picture of how the weather will impact travel in the days ahead. The day before Thanksgiving is historically the busiest travel day of the year for Americans. Unfortunately, Mother Nature is not holding up to her end of the deal to provide smooth sailing.

The week got off to a rocky start as severe storms roared through the southern Plains and the Southeast. The northern edge of the Rockies and the interior portions of the Pacific Northwest saw travel disruptions at the hands of snow.

A surge of colder air diving down from Canada will begin to impact the central, eastern, and southern U.S. on Wednesday. You can expect temperatures to fall 15 to 20 degrees as the cold front pushes through. The moisture currently tethered over the north-central U.S. will find plenty of cold air to support the development of snow. Forecasters are warning that blizzard conditions are possible around Lake Superior. Blowing and drifting snow is also expected in parts of Minnesota and the northern edge of Michigan.

The snow will create significant issues for motorists using portions of interstates 35 and 94 across Minnesota. Travelers heading out in the zone from Duluth, Minnesota, to the east into Marquette, Michigan, should be prepared for the possibility of blizzard conditions. Near-zero visibility will make travel downright treacherous, while secondary roads may be closed due to drifting snow.

Moving to the southeast through the Great Lakes, lake-effect snow is forecast to erupt in some areas downwind of lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Stretches of interstates 75, 79, 80, 81, 86, 90, and 196 may be impacted by times of heavy snow and poor visibility.