Summary (tl;dr)

Multiple winter storm systems are forecast to impact large portions of the United States and parts of Canada during the busy Thanksgiving week, threatening widespread travel disruptions through snow, rain, gusty winds, and plummeting temperatures.

Essential Background

Thanksgiving week is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year in North America, with tens of millions of people traveling by road and air to gather with family and friends. Historically, winter weather during this time can cause significant delays and cancellations, making accurate forecasts from entities like the National Weather Service and AccuWeather crucial for travelers.

The Full Story

Forecasters from AccuWeather and the National Weather Service are warning of several winter storms expected to develop and move across the U.S. and Canada in the days leading up to and including Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. Two major storm systems are anticipated, bringing heavy snow to the Midwest, Northern Plains, Great Lakes region, and parts of the Rockies, with significant snowfall expected from Monday through Wednesday. Regions from the Southern Plains to the Southeast are bracing for flooding rains and thunderstorms, which could also lead to travel delays. Lake-effect snow is a concern for areas around the Great Lakes, including parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York, potentially causing whiteout conditions and hazardous driving. Gusty winds across various affected regions are likely to reduce visibility, exacerbate travel difficulties, and could lead to flight disruptions at major airport hubs such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit. While some areas, particularly in the East, may see milder or drier conditions by Thanksgiving Day itself, the preceding days are expected to be challenging for millions of travelers.

Why It Matters

The convergence of major winter storms and record-setting Thanksgiving travel volumes means millions of Americans and Canadians face potential delays, cancellations, and dangerous road conditions, impacting holiday plans and family gatherings. This weather event poses significant logistical challenges for airlines and transportation infrastructure, with ripple effects across the country. Furthermore, plummeting temperatures, especially in the Midwest, and the possibility of power outages due to strong winds, add to concerns for safety and comfort during the holiday period. The intense public interest is reflected in trending searches for "winter storms" and weather updates, highlighting the widespread concern for travel and leisure plans during this critical holiday week.

Geographic Location

• Eastern North Dakota, United States (accumulating snow and reduced visibility)
• Northern South Dakota, United States (accumulating snow and reduced visibility)
• Northern Minnesota, United States (heavy snowfall, lake-effect snow, and hazardous travel conditions)
• Central Minnesota, United States (heavy snowfall, wind-driven snow, and hazardous travel conditions)
• Southern Minnesota, United States (light snow, rain, and blustery winds)
• Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, United States (wind-driven snow and strong winds impacting flights)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States (expected flight delays and disruptions)
• Northwestern Wisconsin, United States (accumulating snow and reduced visibility)
• Northern Wisconsin, United States (heavy snow and travel disruptions)
• Iron County, Wisconsin, United States (Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow)
• Price County, Wisconsin, United States (Winter Weather Advisory)
• Gogebic County, Wisconsin, United States (Winter Storm Watch)
• Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States (Winter Storm Watch)
• Forest County, Wisconsin, United States (Winter Storm Watch and 4 to 8 inches of snow expected)
• Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States (Winter Storm Watch and 4 to 8 inches of snow expected)
• Lower Michigan, United States (lake-effect snow, up to a foot or more)
• Michigan's Upper Peninsula, United States (lake-effect snow and hazardous travel conditions)
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States (strong winds potentially impacting flights)
• Iowa, United States (heavy snowfall, cold temperatures, and potential for blizzard-like conditions)
• Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, United States (temperatures 6 to 10 degrees below average)
• Montana, United States (snow and gusty winds, winter weather advisories)
• Wyoming, United States (snow, gusty winds, and heavy snow in central Rockies)
• Colorado, United States (snow and gusty winds in the Rockies and High Plains)
• Southern Plains, United States (rain and thunderstorms impacting travel)
• Texas, United States (massive thunderstorms, flooding rain, gusting winds, heavy snow, flight delays and cancellations, unconfirmed tornado reports around Houston, power outages)
• Houston, Harris County, Texas, United States (unconfirmed tornado reports and power outages)
• Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, Texas, United States (expected flight delays and disruptions)
• Arkansas, United States (massive thunderstorms, flooding rain, and gusting winds)
• Oklahoma, United States (massive thunderstorms and gusting winds)
• Louisiana, United States (tornado watch issued)
• Mississippi Valley, United States (poor travel conditions)
• Indiana, United States (poor travel conditions)
• Kentucky, United States (poor travel conditions)
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States (flight delays and disruptions, strong winds)
• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States (strong winds potentially impacting flights)
• Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States (strong winds potentially impacting flights)
• Pacific Northwest, United States (rain, colder conditions, and heavy rainfall slowing travel on I-5 from Portland to Seattle)
• California, United States (steady showers, rain, snow, flood risks, and colder-than-normal temperatures)
• Central Coast, California, United States (chance of "above normal" rainfall)
• Central Valley, California, United States (chance of "above normal" rainfall)
• Southern California, United States (heavy rain and chance of "above normal" rainfall)
• Nevada, United States (steady showers)
• East Coast, United States (rain possibly slowing roads and highways)
• Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (rain causing significant problems on roads and runways)
• Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States (rain delays on flights)
• New York City, New York, United States (rain causing significant problems on roads and runways, flight delays)
• Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States (rain causing significant problems on roads and runways)
• Western New York, New York, United States (lake-effect snow with high winds, blowing and drifting snow)
• Central New York, New York, United States (lake-effect snow with high winds, blowing and drifting snow)
• Mohawk Valley, New York, United States (lake-effect snow with high winds, blowing and drifting snow)
• North Country, New York, United States (lake-effect snow with high winds, blowing and drifting snow)
• Northeast Ohio, Ohio, United States (lake-effect snow)
• Northwest Pennsylvania, United States (lake-effect snow)
• Garrett County, Maryland, United States (accumulating snow)
• Northern New England, United States (mixed precipitation, scattered snow, colder than average temperatures)
• Southeast, United States (thunderstorms, delays in cities like Atlanta)
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States (expected flight delays)
• Alaska, United States (stormy conditions, snow showers all week)
• Hawaii, United States (cooler-than-usual temperatures, isolated showers on Thanksgiving Day)
• Northern Ontario, Canada (significant snowfall)
• Southern Ontario, Canada (lake-effect squalls, strong winds, bursts of heavy snow downwind of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay)
• Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada (potential for bursts of heavy snow)