As millions of Americans prepare for Thanksgiving travel and holiday shopping, weather conditions across several states threaten to disrupt plans with potential snow, rainfall and flooding risks. With less than a week remaining until the holiday, travelers need to stay informed about developing weather patterns that could affect road, rail and air travel.
National Weather Service Thanksgiving Forecast
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings about scattered thunderstorms and widespread showers expected from the Texas coast to the central Appalachians. Meanwhile, southern California and the Desert Southwest will experience heavy to excessive rainfall continuing through Saturday.
The weather agency specifically warned that heavy rain will pose significant flash flooding risks, particularly across burn scar regions and urbanized areas. This could create dangerous conditions for travelers and last-minute shoppers alike.
Regional Weather Impacts and Threats
Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado Conditions
According to NWS Fort Worth, widespread showers and storms are expected late Sunday into Monday across Central and North Texas. Rainfall totals will likely range between half an inch to three inches, with a 10-20% chance of exceeding four inches near and north of Interstate 20.
Some thunderstorms may become strong to severe, with heavy rain likely causing scattered instances of flash flooding across portions of Central Texas, North Texas, and central and southern Oklahoma. The Storm Prediction Center also indicated that isolated severe hail is possible from late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night across parts of west to north-central Texas.
In Colorado, the weather picture includes wintry conditions. Mixed wintry precipitation and snow will linger across higher terrain in central Colorado Sunday night before tapering off early Monday.
California and Southwest Weather Pattern
An unusually strong occluded cyclone centered off the northern coast of Baja California is driving inclement weather across the Southwest this weekend, which will then move into the southern Plains Sunday night into Monday.
Light to moderate rain ahead of the cyclone was already moving into the Desert Southwest early Friday morning. By later today into tonight, bands of moderate rain with embedded thunderstorms are expected to develop and sweep across Arizona before pushing into New Mexico early Sunday.
Travel Advisory and Safety Recommendations
The NWS urged travelers to monitor latest forecast updates closely, especially those planning Thanksgiving shopping trips over the weekend. Showers and storms are expected across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic early Saturday, the Desert Southwest Saturday afternoon, and the central/southern Plains as well as the Northwest on Sunday.
Residents in southern Plains regions should remain weather aware through the weekend and into Monday as some flash floods may lead to significant impacts. The combination of holiday travel rush and adverse weather conditions requires extra caution and flexibility in travel plans.
Travelers are advised to check real-time weather updates, allow extra time for journeys, and consider alternative routes if facing severe weather warnings in their regions.
