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November 26, 2025 - Colder air is preparing to rush into the Lower 48 just in time for Thanksgiving Day festivities across the country. NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center is keeping an eye on the weather conditions for Thanksgiving weekend travelers navigating the roads and the skies for the holiday.
Wednesday: Travel troubles in the East, Northwest
A cold front advances toward the U.S. East Coast on Wednesday, bringing rain showers to cities and airport hubs along the I-95 corridor. Thunderstorms are also possible, especially in Southern cities like Atlanta and Charlotte. Meanwhile, snow showers accompanied by gusty winds will await travelers at major Midwest airports like Chicago and Detroit, and anyone traveling across the upper Plains will be fighting winds gusting upwards of 50mph at times.
Thanksgiving Day: The chill marches east
The rain exits New York City in time for the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, but spectators may want extra layers, with wind chills in the 20s at parade time. That same gusty wind will allow lake effect snow to form downwind of Lakes Superior, Erie and Ontario, leading to pockets of reduced visibility on the roads. A shower may linger in New England, but the weather looks pleasant for those in the Mid-South to the Gulf Coast, with plenty of sun and seasonable temperatures. Rain is likely in the Pacific Northwest, with snow in the higher elevations of the northern Rockies.
Friday: The lake effect snow machine cranks up
The southern tier of the continental U.S. is high and dry on Black Friday, making it easier for shoppers to brave the crowds and the traffic for the first big shopping day of the season. The biggest trouble spot will be in the Great Lakes region, where lake effect snow is expected to pile more than a foot high downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. In the Pacific Northwest through the northern Rockies, a storm system will bring pockets of heavier rain and accumulating snow to elevations above 4,000 feet.
Saturday: Storms possible again in the South
It stays warm for most in the Southern U.S., but a storm system will lead to pockets of heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Mississippi River valley, with snow and a wintry mix possible in the Midwest. Snow continues from the Cascades to the Bitterroot range in the Northwest, but along the East Coast, it’s cool and dry.
Sunday: More snow for the Rockies’ slopes
The coldest air of the season arrives in the northern Plains on Sunday. High temperatures will be in the teens and twenties from Montana to western Kansas, and wind chills will make it feel even colder. Meanwhile, stormy weather continues from the Gulf Coast toward the mid-South, and a new developing system brings some rain and high elevation snow to the Four Corners region of the Rockies.
Stay Weather-Ready this holiday season!
Before hitting the road, check out these winter weather safety tips, and stay weather-ready with the resources below.
- To view a customized weather forecast and current conditions for your area, visit weather.gov or mobile.weather.gov and enter your ZIP Code.
- Follow @NWS on X and your local NOAA National Weather Service forecast office on social media.
Source: NOAA
