NEW YORK – Before it’s time to thaw the turkey, an icy low-pressure system could derail Thanksgiving travel plans in the Tri-State, bringing freezing temperatures, high winds and even snow.

GO TO: NEW YORK SNOW l NYC RAIN l WINTER FORECAST

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

According to the FOX Prediction CenterSnowfall is possible across parts of the northern Mid-Atlantic and inland Northeast from late week through 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 Prediction 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.

Meanwhile, New York City is about to receive some much-needed rain.

The precipitation can be heavy at times, but from now on the FOX Prediction Center don’t expect flash flooding to occur in the region due to the recent record drought.

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

The National Weather Service says the chance of rain on Wednesday night in NYC is 90%, dropping to around 60% for Thursday.

Since September 29, New York City has not received a quarter inch of rain per day.

Although this week’s forecast shows no snowfall in New York, FOX 5 NYs Predicts Nick Gregory the city could make ends meet 20 inches snow this winter, compared to the typical seasonal average of 28 inches.