Thanksgiving 2019 Weather: Heavy Snow In Midwest, Rain In California To Disrupt Travel

Thanksgiving next Thursday might be more about freezing cold misery for many Americans than it will be about steaming turkey dinners with all the trimmings.

This misery is in the process of being unleashed by two massive winter storms set to roll into the Midwest on Thanksgiving week, according to early forecasts. One storm system descending on the Midwest is expected to drop temperatures 5 to 15 degrees.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the potential exists for heavy snow and winter-like travel conditions. Expect significant travel delays from eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico to parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, said AccuWeather.

"There could be a decent amount of snow in parts of the Plains," said Weather Channel meteorologist Ari Sarsalari.

On Wednesday, traffic congestion is expected to be at its worst in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Houston and San Francisco. These cities might see more than three times their normal traffic on Wednesday. Much of the Midwest is expected to have highs in the upper 30s to low 40s for Thanksgiving Day on the 28th. Conditions will be dry.

Weathermen also said blizzard conditions are possible in the Upper Midwest when this storm strengthens. This blizzard will bring heavy snow with winds of at least 35 mph. Visibility will be limited to less and one-fourth of a mile. AccuWeather predicts Chicago might take the worst of this storm.

On the other hand, the Northeast might see an agreeable 2019 Thankgiving as far as the weather goes. Thanksgiving in the region is predicted to be cooler due to rain storms on Wednesday.

The spell of rain-free weather bodes well for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But the parade will start under partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 40s. Highs are expected in the mid-40s.

Out in the West, Thanksgiving will be warm and in some areas wet. California will see rains late Wednesday and throughout the day on Thanksgiving, making Turkey Day wet gray and dreary. We can blame an area of low pressure for this unwanted rain with the potential to disrupt travel.

Weathermen predict the heaviest rain will hit Southern California -- from Los Angeles area, down to San Diego -- which is still smoldering from recent forest fires.

This will be a very busy Thanksgiving season, thanks partly to low gasoline prices. AAA expects 50 million people to take to the roads, rails and skies during Thanksgiving week.

It also predicts this year will see the second-highest number of travelers in at least a decade. AAA predicts an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to 2018 with most people driving to their destinations.