Heavy snow, icy roads could disrupt Thanksgiving plans for NC travelers
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- AAA predicts about 81.8 million travelers Nov. 25–Dec. 1 for Thanksgiving.
- Heavy snow is possible in Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes states.
- Limited visibility and slippery, icy roads could make travel dangerous.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected in North Carolina leading up to Thanksgiving, but weather conditions elsewhere in the country could disrupt travel.
Severe weather has already delayed travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where the FAA issued a ground stop Tuesday morning, Nov. 25, because of thunderstorms, CBS News reported.
AAA predicted that about 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from their homes during the holiday period, between Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Monday, Dec. 1.
Here’s an overview of how weather may affect holiday travel for North Carolinians.
Snow in the Plains, Midwest
Parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, including areas in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, are bracing for heavy snow starting Tuesday, Nov. 25.
A winter storm watch is in effect for parts of Michigan from Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 26 through Friday morning, Nov. 28. Between 4 inches and 7 inches of snow is possible during that period, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids. Dangerous travel conditions including slick roads and low visibility may affect drivers, particularly on Wednesday evening and on Thanksgiving.
A blizzard warning was in effect for parts of northeast South Dakota and neighboring areas in Minnesota until Tuesday evening, as forecasters expected wind gusts up to 50 mph and several inches of snow.
Winter storms near Great Lakes
Snowy weather in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania could cause problems for travelers before and after Thanksgiving.
Lake effect snow, a phenomenon when cold air moves across the unfrozen, relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes and creates narrow bands that can produce 2 inches to 3 inches of snow per hour, is expected across northeast Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and New York.
Snow is expected to move onshore in Pennsylvania on Wednesday night and arrive in Ohio by Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service office in Cleveland. The heaviest snow is expected on Thanksgiving. The area around Erie, Pennsylvania, has the highest probability of receiving 8 inches or more of snow.
A winter storm watch is en effect Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning in New York cities including Syracuse and Utica. Total snow accumulations could be higher than 7 inches, according to the National Weather Service office in Binghamton, New York.
Snow in Washington
A winter weather advisory is in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning in parts of central Washington, as snow and isolated freezing precipitation is expected. Up to 10 inches of snow is possible in some areas of higher elevation.
The conditions could make roads slippery.
Thanksgiving 2025
Here’s everything you need to know about Thanksgiving week in North Carolina.
- Some restaurants are open on Thanksgiving day. Here’s a list in Raleigh and Charlotte.
- Only a handful of grocery stores are open (with limited hours) on Thursday. Learn which ones in Raleigh and Charlotte.
- Trash pickup schedules change for the holiday. Check your Raleigh-area or Charlotte-area town.
- Liquor stores also change hours, but here’s where you can still buy booze in Raleigh and Charlotte.
- If you’re flying for the holiday, follow these travel tips to avoid RDU’s and CLT’s usual Thanksgiving mayhem.
- Many malls and stores are shifting their hours for Black Friday. Here’s how early they’ll open in Raleigh and Charlotte.
This story has been updated.
This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM.
