WASHINGTON – Before it’s time to thaw the turkey, an icy low-pressure system could derail Thanksgiving travel plans in the region with freezing temperatures, high winds and even snow.

GO TO: NORTHEAST STORM l DC FORECAST l WINTER FORECAST

A powerful winter storm has the potential to batter parts of the Northeast with accumulating snow, cold temperatures, high winds and rain, just as many people prepare to travel early for Thanksgiving.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, snowfall is possible in parts of the northern Mid-Atlantic and inland Northeast from the end of the week into the weekend. However, forecasters say there is still significant uncertainty about the amount of cold air available for snow.

This graph shows the forecast snow totals for this week. (FOX Weather)

There is also the threat of lake effect snow, but this will be hit and miss depending on how the low pressure system tracks, according to the FOX Forecast Center. As it stands now, the air may be too warm to support lake effect snow.

Meanwhile, the NOAA NWS Climate Prediction Center agrees and also says the powerful storm system could potentially bring lake-effect snowfall between Thursday and Friday, but ultimately it all depends on the cold air.

“There is uncertainty about the extent of the cold air, which could impact precipitation types and snow totals in some locations,” the agency said in a Facebook post.

“There is uncertainty about the extent of the cold air, which could impact precipitation types and snow totals in some locations,” the agency said in a Facebook post.

The DC area will see a warm start to the week ahead of a cold front arriving late Wednesday, bringing colder temperatures and a chance of rain.

A windy period is expected on Thursday and Friday with cold temperatures and a chance of showers. This is the best bet yet for a bit of a wintry mix, with a chance of some ice or sleet snowflakes as highs drop into the 30s and 40s for the area.

Precipitation will hit areas north of DC more heavily and could hamper air and road traffic just as the Thanksgiving travel week gets underway.

This graph shows forecast rain totals in the Northeast. (FOX Weather)

FOX 5 DC’s Mike Thomas predicts only 4 to 10 inches of total snowfall will fall this winter – below average for the area.

“It’s a low range, and honestly, a single decent snowstorm could knock it down,” Thomas said. “One thing DC has never had, though, at least not as far back as the data states, is a snowless winter.”

Areas west of DC and in the mountains will see more snow than the surrounding metro area, but Thomas says the entire region will most likely experience below-average snowfall.

“This year I’m really struggling to find a solid indication that good snow could be in our future. For those of you who don’t like snow, and I know there are a lot of you out there, all signs seem to be pointing toward our sixth straight year of less than normal snowfall for the DC region,” Thomas said.