A major winter storm will impede post-Thanksgiving travel in at least 12 states this weekend, with National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists predicting 6 inches or more of snow in the Midwest.
Why It Matters
The forecast comes as roughly 82 million Americans prepare to travel more than 50 miles from home this week for Thanksgiving. It emphasizes the necessity of rapid weather forecasts for travelers, as heavy snow can upset plans and cause unsafe travel.
The heavy snow is accompanied by a spate of National Weather Service (NWS) alerts, including a blizzard warning in Michigan, which came earlier than typical this year, according to NWS meteorologist Greg Sova.
What to Know
On Thursday, the National Weather Service released a snowfall forecast for the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, and Midwest. Many states in these regions have already seen winter weather this week, with more snow predicted for the weekend.
“A significant winter storm is likely to impact portions of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes beginning Friday through this weekend, which will impact post-Thanksgiving travel,” according to the National Weather Service.
Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and New York have the highest possibilities of receiving 6 inches or more of snow, although lower chances extend beyond, including South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
A winter storm watch was issued for the region earlier this week, and local NWS offices upgraded the watches to winter storm warnings for many of the affected states by Thursday afternoon.
“Confidence is increasing for a winter storm to develop over the northern and central Rockies and track across the Central Plains through the Midwest early this weekend,” the NWS said in a key message included in the post. “Snow will begin across the northern Rockies Friday morning then spread quickly eastward to the Plains by the afternoon. Snow will reach the Midwest region by late Friday.”
Snow may affect major roads, highways, and interstates, and in certain circumstances, roadways may be closed.
What Happens Next
Snow will begin to fall on Friday and soon spread throughout the Central United States. People in affected areas are asked to stay storm-aware and heed the advice of their local NWS office. Unnecessary travel should be avoided during the heaviest snowfall.
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