Winter weather is making travel difficult during the Thanksgiving holiday, and animated weather images from windy.com show the impact of bad weather for those who still have travel plans.

Nearly 80 million Americans were expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year, AAA reported. The National Weather Service (NWS) has several weather warnings and messages across the country.

Current precipitation

States with persistent precipitation are mainly in the central/western US, with winter storm warnings remaining in effect across Colorado and eastern Utah through Wednesday evening.

According to the animated image from windy.com, some precipitation will also hit northern Arizona, with mostly rain, and northern New Mexico. Rain will also fall from Kansas east through Missouri and part of central Illinois.

The rain could turn to snow in some areas Wednesday night, NWS meteorologists warned.

“A mix of rain and snow will move through the region today and tonight,” said a hazardous weather statement from the NWS office in Lincoln, Illinois. “While most will see little to no snow accumulation, there is potential for a narrow band of snow to bring at least an inch of snow somewhere north of I-70 in east-central Illinois. If this happens, there could be minor impacts to travel emerged.”

Accumulation of snow

Over the next three days, the heaviest snow accumulation will occur in Colorado, Utah, the Northeast and the Great Lakes region. The most widespread heavy amounts will likely affect the Northeast, with several feet of lake-effect snow expected in New York starting Friday.

The coming winter weather has prompted NWS meteorologists to urge some New Yorkers to postpone their post-Thanksgiving trips until the storm has passed.

“Travel will be very difficult and sometimes almost impossible. The hazardous conditions will certainly impact Friday evening commutes,” the warning said. “During lake effect snow, weather can vary from locally heavy snow with greatly reduced visibility to dry conditions just a few miles away. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility and road conditions.”

Snow plows may not be able to access roads during periods of heavier snow, NWS meteorologist David Thomas said Newsweekpotentially making roads impassable.

Radar

Current radar images show precipitation-laden storms moving across the central U.S. and Midwest beginning Wednesday afternoon.

Wind

The strongest winds were felt in central New Mexico Wednesday afternoon. A wind warning warned that parts of the state could experience gusts of up to 55 miles per hour.

The winds were caused by the remnants of an atmospheric river that hit the Pacific Northwest this week.

“These strong winds can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution,” said a wind advisory issued by the Albuquerque office.

Winds will decrease over Thanksgiving and return over the weekend, NWS meteorologist Carter Greulich previously said Newsweek that wind speeds were not expected to be as strong as earlier this week.

Severity of icing

An arctic blast will descend on the northern plains this week, bringing pleasant temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero in North Dakota.

As of Wednesday afternoon, one of the busiest travel days leading up to Thanksgiving, there was a chance of ice formation in northern North Dakota and western Minnesota.