THANKSGIVING TRAVEL OUTLOOK: Cross-country storm threatens holiday travel

THANKSGIVING TRAVEL TROUBLE

AccuWeather meteorologists are keeping a close eye on a significant storm that will form in the middle of the country with impacts on Thanksgiving travel this week. Businesses should prepare for hazards ranging from snow, heavy rain, and gusty winds. According to AAA, approximately 55 million people will hit the roads this Thanksgiving, close to pre-pandemic levels. Another 4.5 million will take to the skies. The weather system will cause delays to air passengers, and drivers should expect issues because of the number of people on the road. 

The storm will produce rain and mountain snow on Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest. Areas from the Washington Cascades and the northern Rockies could see up to a foot of snow. As the storm moves east and enters the Plains, the lack of moisture will produce flurries and light snow. Florida and areas along the East Coast will see some downpours.

A large storm is expected to form in the center of the country on Thanksgiving Day. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico should link up with this system; however, if that connection doesn't happen, two separate storms could develop, creating downpours in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Conditions will deteriorate after the holiday. On Friday gusty winds, slippery roads, and travel disruptions are expected across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Areas from Washington, D.C., to Boston, will see mainly rain from this system. Regions that do not face significant impacts from precipitation could see gusty winds that could impact flights and drivers.

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Businesses in these areas should keep an eye on the storm and should: 

• Identify hazards most likely to impact your location & cause business disruptions. 
• Be prepared for business interruptions due to extended power outages. 
• Take steps to minimize inventory loss due to flooding. If your warehouse is in a low-lying area, you should take precautions.
• Expect ground logistics disruption from flooding, drifting snow, downed trees, power outages, and road closures.

Be proactive with AccuWeather's SkyGuard^® Warnings, which will deliver site-specific alerts and offer warnings well before severe weather hits, giving you much-needed time to be prepared. 

Benefits of SkyGuard^® Warnings: 

• Proactive, site-specific alerts offer warnings well before severe weather impacts occur
• Live one-on-one or group consultation is provided by our weather experts anytime, day or night
• Alerts delivered in a format that aligns with your organizational emergency management plan
• All-clear notifications are given when a threat is over, minimizing weather-related downtime
• All alerts are delivered via push notification from the SkyGuard mobile app, available on Android and iOS