For many of the tens of millions of Americans who will travel for Thanksgiving, forecasters say “messy” weather lies ahead.

Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, according to AAA, which predicts how many people will travel by plane or car. Nearly 80 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes.

Some travelers can expect cold temperatures, high winds, rain and even the chance of heavy snowfall. The cold weather may also extend to post-holiday shopping and travel.

There is also a slight risk of heavy snow in the Great Lakes region and the Northeast starting the day after Thanksgiving and continuing into the weekend, while western California is expected to continue with rain.

“Messy Thanksgiving trips” are possible in the eastern US

On Saturday, the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center predicted that “messy Thanksgiving travel” was possible in the eastern US.

AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok previously told USA TODAY that travelers should be prepared for delays due to high winds across the region.

For those in the Great Lakes region extending into the Northeast, rain and snow are expected at higher elevations Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. An area of ​​low pressure will bring “the most significant outbreak of cold air of the season so far” across most of the contiguous U.S., the weather service said.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York could predict the possibility of rain.

Weather forecast maps

In the Midwest rain and partly a chance of snow

The weather service says there is a chance of light snow in parts of the Central Plains and the mid-Mississippi River Valley on Wednesday. This could impact the upper Ohio Valley, Appalachians, mid-Atlantic and inland Northeast by Thanksgiving Day and Friday.

Rain, the first frost of the season in the south

The first freeze of the season could then hit the South.

A low-pressure system will develop in the south-central Plains and move eastward, likely bringing more precipitation to the eastern half of the U.S. between Wednesday and Friday, federal forecasters said. The heaviest rainfall is currently expected Wednesday through Thursday in the mid-Southern US, the Tennessee Valley and the lower Ohio Valley.

In West, residents have not yet had much trouble with rain

In the West, rain will slowly move southward on Tuesday, the Weather Prediction Center said. This is expected to bring “modest rain” to California, which has been hit by an atmospheric river that has caused flooding in parts.

The rainfall is expected to affect areas south of where flooding occurred. Showers could be possible from California to the Pacific Northwest, said Weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.

Snowfall will also accumulate in the western mountain ranges, with heavy snowfall between 1 and 3 feet in the Sierra Nevada, and 1 to 2 feet in the Colorado Rockies.

Meanwhile, the Southwest could see above-average temperatures heading into the Southern Plains on Tuesday. Later in the week, however, a wave of cold air will sweep across much of the contiguous U.S., returning the West and South to normal cooling.

Precipitation should taper off later next week.

Stay safe during Thanksgiving travel

Check the weather before heading out for your Thanksgiving trips. Tell someone when you are leaving and when you expect to arrive.

Stay off the road during blizzards and winter storms unless absolutely necessary. If you must drive in bad weather, drive slowly and use your headlights. Even if the road looks clear, black ice – which is essentially invisible – can lurk and cause you to lose control.

‘It happened so quickly’: Black ice turns roads into invisible ice rinks

Prepare your car in case you get stranded on the road in bad conditions. Have a safety kit with blankets, water and non-perishable food. Keep warm clothes in the car, even if you don’t think you need them.

Make sure your mobile phone is charged.

If you are stranded during a winter storm, stay in your car. Turn on your engine and use the heater regularly (about 10 minutes per hour), but make sure your exhaust pipes are clear of snow and that a window is open to the wind for ventilation.

Try doing light exercises to keep your limbs moving.

(This story has been updated to add new information and to correct a spelling error/typo.)

Contributors: Dinah Voyles Pulver and Doyle Rice

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thanksgiving 2024 weather forecast by US region: Will it snow?