Stormy Weather Could Mess Up Holiday Travel

(Nov. 19) -- Crowded freeways, overbooked flights, security lines and missed connections make travel leading up to Thanksgiving stressful even in the best of circumstances, but a developing stormy weather pattern over the next several days will complicate matters across much of the U.S.

For travelers getting an early start this weekend, significant weather disruptions will be limited to the western part of the country. But the system is forecast to shift eastward next week, and by Wednesday a developing storm might result in delays for countless Americans.

Widespread Weather Disruptions in the West This Weekend

A potent early-season storm will pound the West Coast with rain and mountain snow over the weekend, while extremely cold air pours into the northern Rockies. Major delays are likely on roads and at airports.

For the West Coast, at least a little rain is likely to fall from Seattle to San Diego at some point during the weekend, and it might even turn cold enough in the Seattle/Tacoma region for snow showers by Sunday night. But the most disruptive rain and mountain snow will occur in Northern and central California. Travel over the Sierra Nevada will be difficult to impossible for a time, and rain-related airport delays are likely in the San Francisco Bay area and Central Valley.

Heavy snow will spread into the central Rockies over the weekend, interrupting road travel. Snow will likely fall even in the valley location of northern Utah, including Salt Lake City's airport. The good news is that significant snow is not likely to make it as far east as Denver.

In the northern Rockies, extreme cold will combine with bouts of snow to result in dangerous travel conditions on highways. Daytime temperatures might remain below zero in parts of northern Montana on Sunday. Travelers will need to be prepared for life-threatening conditions in case cars becomes stranded.

The snow and bitter cold will spread eastward into the northern Plains as the weekend progresses, and some generally light rain will occur in the Midwest and Missouri Valley on Sunday.

Delays Spread Eastward Early Next Week

The major travel hubs along the Eastern Seaboard will continue to have tranquil weather to start the week, but occasional light rain and low ceilings on Monday might cause some airport delays in the Midwest, including Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis. Colder air will sweep in by Tuesday, and travelers heading into or out of this region will have to monitor local forecasts for the possibility of snow before Tuesday is over.

Generally light snow might fall in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Monday, including Minneapolis/St. Paul's airport, resulting in minor road and air delays. A second round of snow will move out of the Plains toward the Midwest on Tuesday, while unusually intense November cold will continue to be a danger for highway travelers in the northern Plains and northern Rockies.

Significant Storm Possible by Wednesday

While forecast details are uncertain this early, it appears as if a significant storm could form Tuesday night into Wednesday, causing widespread delays for travelers in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and parts of the South.

Significant rain, perhaps including strong thunderstorms, is a threat from the Ohio Valley southwestward to eastern Texas. On the cold side of the storm, snow is a threat in the Midwest, including Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis. The amount of snow and interruption to air and highway travel will depend on the precise position and intensity of the storm; however, the potential exists for a significant storm.

While travelers along the Eastern Seaboard might miss the worst of the weather through much of the holiday travel rush, rain-related delays are likely in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington before Wednesday is over. In addition, inclement weather in upstream cities could create delays regardless of how long the weather in the major cities remains tranquil.