A rush of travelers expected to hit the roads and skies for the Thanksgiving holiday could hit bad weather across much of the United States thanks to asprawling storm threatening heavy rain, wind, snow and thunderstorms.
About two-thirds of the country could see some kind of inclement weather, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The storm system is expected to impact much of the central, eastern and southern parts of the country, the outlet reported.
What is starting asrain and mountain snow in parts of Californiaand the Southwest this weekend will shift eastward to the Plains region to start off the holiday week, and reach the Mississippi Valley and eventually the East Coast by midweek, forecasters said.
"The storm will bring downpours, severe weather and snow to different regions as it moves east," AccuWeather said in an advisory.
The weather is promised as nearly82 million people are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holidayin the United States, a record high, according to AAA.
Here's what to expect if you're traveling for the holiday:
Is snow in Thanksgiving week weather forecast?
Light to moderate snow from the Dakotas to northern Minnesota is expected early-to-mid holiday week, forecasters said.
"Snow and a wintry mix will develop from Montana to Colorado and portions of the Plains early in the week, then spread into the Midwest," AccuWeather said.
On Thanksgiving day and into the end of the week, expect snow in northern Michigan from thelake effect– when cold, dry air passes across a lake such as in the Great Lakes region – and from northeast Ohio into central New York, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain, thunderstorms to spread
The system starting out in the Southwest will shift east into Thanksgiving week, AccuWeather said. This weekend and early Thanksgiving week, storms could be intense enough to impact flights at some Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas airports, the outlet reported.
On Nov. 25, organized showers and thunderstorms are expected from eastern Mississippi to the southern Appalachians, the National Weather Service said.
"The best chance of severe weather will be in the South Central states," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Periods of rain and mountain snow are likely for the Pacific Northwest region as well, the weather service said. A "potent atmospheric river" is gearing up for northwestern Oregon and western Washington.
Washington, D.C., to Boston could see impacts such as heavy rain and slick roads from the storms the day before Thanksgiving, AccuWeather said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Updates on storms, rain and snow in Thanksgiving week weather forecast
