Thursday, November 15, 2012

National Thanksgiving Travel Weather

November 15,2012; 8:56PM,EST





 

A Pacific storm train may bring the biggest travel problems for Thanksgiving to the Northwest, while a storm track for the East is far from set in stone.
Between the East and West coasts, fewer widespread weather-related travel delays are forecast.
AccuWeather's region-by-region breakdown of how weather might impact Thanksgiving travel can be found below. Jump to potential flight delays at major airports across the U.S.
Northeast
There is the potential for a nor'easter to form off the Atlantic coast by early next week. It is still unclear whether the storm will shift out to sea or move northward up the Eastern Seaboard.
If the storm shifts out to sea, then there may be no impact to Thanksgiving travel. Partly to mostly sunny skies and seasonable temperatures would be expected in this scenario. At this time, AccuWeather meteorologists are leaning toward this forecast.
However, rain, low clouds and gusty winds could cause slow travel both on the ground and in the air from Washington, D.C., to Boston if the storm moves up the coast.
Southeast
With another potential nor'easter brewing off the coast by early next week, an onshore flow could deliver low clouds to eastern portions of the Carolinas to Florida on Monday and Tuesday. Any low clouds could cause potential flight delays, including at major airports such as Raleigh-Durham.
The east coast of Florida may even be dealing with some showers, including Miami.
Meanwhile, the interior Southeast should remain dry through the beginning of the week. Cities such as Atlanta and Birmingham are not expected to have weather-related travel delays on Monday or Tuesday.
Another storm will move from west to east across the South through midweek, spreading showers and thunderstorms across the region. The showers may target the lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday before shifting east across the Tennessee Valley and portions of the Deep South on the biggest travel day of the year, Wednesday.
Locally torrential downpours may slow motorists traveling across portions of the I-10, I-20 and I-40 corridors on Tuesday and Wednesday. Memphis and Nashville may have showers and storms on Tuesday into Wednesday that could result in flight delays.
Midwest
For the most part, there are not too many weather-related travel problems anticipated across the Midwest Thanksgiving week. Generally dry and seasonable weather is in store for the Dakotas through the Great Lakes.
However, a few showers may pass quickly through, from the Dakotas and Minnesota on Monday to the Great Lakes on Tuesday. While the showers are not predicted to be widespread, there may end up being occasional flight delays.
Rockies/Plains
Much of the Rockies and the Plains will be dominated by dry weather under the influence of high pressure. Very few weather-related travel issues are predicted.
The one exception may be a moist flow from the Gulf that could trigger a few showers across Texas and the southern Plains.
West
The Northwest is likely to turn out to be the stormiest part of the nation for Thanksgiving travel. Significant travel problems could result low-elevation rain, mountain snow and wind.
Seattle to Portland are forecast to be soaked by heavy rain through the first half of next week. High winds will drive the rain sideways at times, possibly making it hard for motorists to see while driving along the I-5 corridor.
Snow levels will drop as low as major mountain passes, such as Snoqualmie along I-90 in Washington, by Tuesday and Wednesday. Motorists traveling for Thanksgiving can run into slippery and hazardous travel.
At times, the rain will reach southward into northern California. Wet weather is most likely to disrupt travel in San Francisco on Monday and Tuesday. By Wednesday, there is potential that drying will occur in San Francisco.
Farther south, dry and mild weather is in store for Southern California and the interior Southwest.


Weather-Related Airport Delays Thanksgiving Week










































Airport
Mon. 11/19
Tue. 11/20
Wed. 11/21
Boston
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
New York JFK
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Philadelphia
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Pittsburgh
None
None
None
Baltimore
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Washington Dulles
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Possible
(Watching for Atlantic Nor'easter)
Atlanta
None
None
None
Miami
Possible
Possible
Possible
Detroit
None
Possible Late
None
Cincinnati
None
Possible Late
None
Chicago
None
Possible Early
None
Minneapolis
Possible
None
None
Dallas
Possible
Possible
Possible
Denver
None
None
None
Seattle
Likely
Likely
Likely
Salt Lake City
None
None
None
San Francisco
Likely
Possible
None
Los Angeles
None
None
None

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