The National Weather Service (NWS) has predicted “a significant arctic outbreak” in the northern Plains during what are traditionally some of the busiest travel days in the US.
On Wednesday, heavy snow and rain are expected to affect the Colorado Rockies, part of a weather system that will intensify and move eastward later on Thanksgiving Day. Some areas may see up to 10 inches (25 cm) of snow.
Temperatures are also forecast to plummet to bitterly cold levels across many regions. The arctic blast could push temperatures as low as -30°F to -40°F (-34°C to -40°C) in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, according to BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor. The storm is expected to push into the Midwest, bringing “lake-effect” snow and severe thunderstorms.
Snowfall could be heavy in parts of New England and the Appalachians, with the northern coastline of Michigan seeing up to 4-8 inches of snow. In the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, snow showers are also expected.
These severe weather conditions coincide with the busy Thanksgiving travel period. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has reported record high passenger volumes this year.
The busiest travel days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday, and the Sunday following Thanksgiving, with nearly nine million people expected to pass through airport security on these days.
So far, airports have experienced minimal disruptions, but conditions could worsen as the storm intensifies. The I-90 highway between Cleveland and Buffalo and the I-81 north of Syracuse may see travel disruptions due to snow accumulation in areas south and east of the Great Lakes.
Meanwhile, Thanksgiving rain and snow in the eastern US follow a winter storm in California, where heavy snow and wind gusts of up to 50 mph (81 km/h) affected higher elevations earlier this week. Central California also faced another “atmospheric river” event on Tuesday, following a similar phenomenon last week.
In the Pacific Northwest, communities are still recovering from last week’s bomb cyclone, a severe weather event caused by a rapid drop in air pressure offshore.
The storm led to widespread flooding and power outages, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. These areas may face more wet weather, as the NWS predicts a low-pressure system will bring coastal rain to Washington, Oregon, and California this week.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
