Thanksgiving Airline Travel Jeopardy

By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

AccuWeather.com reports another nor'easter during Thanksgiving week will put travel in jeopardy for the holiday, while a storm also hits the West Coast.

A nor'easter may form over the western Atlantic by Sunday, sending rain and wind into parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast through at least the middle of the week.

"How close to the coast the storm tracks will determine how unsettled the weather gets in the I-95 corridor to the Appalachians," AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

There is potential that the nor'easter could strengthen and move farther inland into New England at midweek. In this scenario, there is some potential for a wintry mix or snow over the mountains of northern New England.

With next week being one of the heaviest travel times of the year, airline passengers from Boston to New York City may deal with delays due to rain, low clouds and wind. These delays could in turn cause ripple-effect problems.

Motorists might also meet slow travel in both wet weather closer to the coast and any slippery roads resulting wintry weather across the interior.

A separate weak storm system could bring some rain and snow showers to the Midwest on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a potent storm from the Pacific threatens to bring heavy rain, mountain snow and locally gusty wind to the Northwest and northern California early next week.

The rain could slow travel along the I-5 corridor from Seattle to Portland and Medford, Ore. San Francisco may also get damp for a time, causing some slower holiday travel.

Snow levels could be down to pass level in the Northwest, impacting travel over heavy traffic areas such as Snowqualmie Pass along I-90.

On Wednesday, rain may linger across the Pacific Northwest coast, while snow pushes inland across the northern Rockies.

Dry and mild weather will be in place for the Southwest and much of the southern Plains Thanksgiving week. However, some showers may develop across portions of Texas into the lower Mississippi Valley early in the week.

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