Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving Week Travel Forecast

November 27,2013
 
 
 
 
 
According to AAA, about 43.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend from Wednesday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Dec. 1.
Background

Current Airport Delays

Current Airport Delays
Of course, adverse weather conditions can play a huge role in causing travel headaches with so many people on the road and in the air. Last year, fog caused hundreds of flight delays and cancelations in Chicago and St. Louis on the day before Thanksgiving.
This year, Winter Storm Boreas has caused travel problems from the South into the Northeast. But as Boreas pulls away, better travel weather is ahead for the holiday weekend. We have the day-by-day forecast details below.

Thanksgiving Day/First Day of Hanukkah

Background

Thanksgiving Forecast

Thanksgiving Forecast
Fortunately, Thanksgiving Day and the first day of Hanukkah appear to be devoid of major storm systems for a large majority of the country.
The storm system affecting the East on Tuesday and Wednesday will have pulled well north into eastern Canada. However, there will be some lingering gusty winds in the Northeast as low pressure departs, mainly in the morning. Some light snow is possible over the Great Lakes and northern New England, especially in the morning, but should be considered no more than a nuisance.
In the West, an offshore low pressure system will lurk near Southern California, bringing clouds near the coast, including parts of the L.A. Basin. It now appears that rain will stay just offshore.
Between these two weather systems, an area of high pressure should result in dry conditions for a large chunk of the country.
The only small exception may be a few showers or sprinkles near the Georgia and Atlantic Florida coasts, as high pressure brings east to northeast breezes ashore.
Temperatures will be anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees below average across the eastern half of the nation.
(INTERSTATES AFFECTED: I-77 | I-79 | I-80 | I-90 | I-94)

Black Friday

Background

Friday's Forecast

Friday's Forecast
Dry weather conditions will dominate the vast majority of the country for those traveling or out shopping on Friday.
A stray sprinkle or shower is possible in Southern California, and a robust onshore east to northeast wind may bring light rain showers or sprinkles to the east coast of Florida. Some stubborn areas of flurries or light snow may linger near the Great Lakes. Finally, some light valley rain and mountain snow showers may dot the Pacific Northwest.
Otherwise, the country should see little in the way of active weather.
Temperatures should warm slightly compared to that chilly Thanksgiving Day in the Southeast and Midwest, but will remain stubbornly cold in the Northeast. West of the Rockies, readings should be near or above average on both Thursday and Friday.

Saturday/Sunday

Background

Sunday's Forecast

Sunday's Forecast
Saturday will be another quiet day across the Lower 48 States, with no major travel weather impacts.
High pressure will be entrenched in the East. Only a few passing showers or sprinkles are possible for the coast of Georgia and eastern Florida. Some light snow or flurries may dust northern Michigan. A few valley rain and mountain snow showers are expected in the Northwest and northern Rockies.
That said, Saturday will remain cold in the Northeast, with highs still 10-20 degrees below average. Meanwhile, slightly above-average temperatures will reign in an arc from the Plains to the Northern Rockies to California.
The busy post-Thanksgiving travel day Sunday could be a little more problematic.
Areas of low clouds and light rain or drizzle may be enough to trigger some flight delays in parts of the Southern Plains, and possibly Ohio Valley.
Another weak system may bring either light rain or light snow to parts of New England, and perhaps a few showers south of the Mason-Dixon line to eastern North Carolina. Given heavy airport volume, low clouds themselves may trigger some delays in at least some of the Northeast hubs Sunday.
More stubborn showers may periodically dampen parts of the Carolinas to Florida, mainly near the Atlantic coast.
Finally, a Pacific frontal system will sweep into the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, with low-elevation rain, lowering mountain snow levels and strong winds. Travel over the passes of the Cascades, Bitterroots, and Tetons may become hazardous due to snow.

MORE: Travel Postcards from the 1900s 

General view, Oban, Scotland. (Flickr/The Library of Congress)

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