Thanksgiving Weather Forecast: As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans are expected to travel by road, rail or air to meet their families, relatives and loved ones. However, winter storms, rain and snow in some parts of the country can dampen spirits and also affect holiday travel plans. Here’s a look at the weather forecast.
When is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving, harvest day, falls on November 27. It is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday. It is also an annual public holiday in the United States. The event of Thanksgiving in American households is celebrated with a meal consisting of a variety of dishes including turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by Pilgrims and Native Americans.
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Thanksgiving weather forecast?
The National Weather Service (NWS) said the storm over the US Southwest will move east through Thursday, while another Pacific storm will turn over the region Friday into the weekend. Widespread low-level rain and high-elevation snow showers are expected with each storm. Both storms will move over the central US.
In a short-term forecast, the Weather Prediction Center (WPS) said there was a moderate risk of excessive rainfall over parts of the Southwest on Wednesday and South Texas on Thursday. While parts of the southern Utah, Colorado and Sierra Nevada mountains are expected to receive light snow.
“The system will produce heavy rain and thunderstorms over parts of the Southwest and higher elevation rain/snow over parts of the central/southern Rockies overnight Wednesday into Thursday.”
The WPC said heavy showers and thunderstorms will develop over the southern Plains on Thursday and spread into the middle/lower Mississippi Valley.
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“The associated heavy rain will create mostly localized areas of flash flooding, with urban areas, roads, small streams, narrow canyons/ravines and burn scars most vulnerable.”
He added that rain will move into the Ohio Valley on Thursday, spread into the central Appalachians by Thursday evening and into the mid-Atlantic/Northeast overnight Thursday into Friday.
According to Fox Weather, the Missouri to Texas region could see some rain on Thanksgiving Wednesday, while the West, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and much of the Southeast are expected to be dry.
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Accuweather said the Pacific storm will bring more rain, mountain snowfall and could still cause travel disruptions on highways and airports.
According to Bernie Rayn, AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist, the heaviest rainfall from this storm will focus on Southern California.
A storm system is expected to develop on November 24 and could bring rain to the southern plains. Another storm system will bring rain and cooler conditions to the Pacific Northwest.
The most impressive Thanksgiving Day occurred on Nov. 27, 1919, when an intense snowstorm swept from the northwest into eastern Utah and western Colorado, according to weather.gov.
This storm produced record 24-hour snowfall totals for several climate locations, including 14 inches in Grand Junction.
