Thanksgiving is looking set to be wet and cold for millions of Americans in the northeast of America as the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a slew of winter weather warnings and advisories.
Heavy snow is expected throughout New England and beyond today and could throw a wrench into holiday travel plans across the region. Snow and rain are expected to stretch from northern Pennsylvania all the way up to Maine throughout Thursday and into Friday morning.
Almost all of Maine is covered by winter storm warnings, where 5 to 10 inches of snow are expected from 4 p.m. ET on Thursday through to Friday morning. Higher amounts are expected in Piscataquis County to southeast Aroostook County.
"Periods of locally heavy snowfall may lead to rapid snow accumulations," the NWS warning reads. "The weight of heavy, wet snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. Travel could be very difficult due to heavy snow creating low visibility, and wet roads freezing under new snow."
Similar amounts of snow are expected in neighboring New Hampshire, with a warning in place for Sullivan, Carroll, and Grafton counties. As well as potential power outages, driving conditions throughout the area are likely to become dangerous.
Winter storm warnings are also active in the Vermont counties of Bennington, Orange, Rutland, Windham and Windsor. In Bennington and Windham, up to 12 inches of snow are expected from early Thursday morning to 1 a.m. on Friday, with Thanksgiving travel likely to be impacted.
Parts of central and eastern New York are impacted by several winter storm warnings, with several advisories issued across the south of the state as well. Some 10 inches of snow are forecast for eastern portions, where snow could fall at a rate of 1 inch per hour throughout Thursday afternoon. Other warnings are active for Oneida, Madison, Chenango, and Otsego counties.
Across the state line in Pennsylvania, winter weather advisories are active for northern parts of the state, including Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, and Sullivan counties, where as much as 3 to 4 inches are expected at higher elevations.
Elsewhere in Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wayne counties, snow is forecast from the early morning until 10 a.m. before rain comes in the late morning and afternoon. Motorists are urged to slow down and use caution when traveling.
One winter weather advisory is active for Massachusetts for Berkshire County, where 2 to 8 inches of "wet snow" are likely. Snowfall rates could reach 1 inch per hour during the afternoon hours, with some Thanksgiving travel likely to be affected.
Moving over to the Canadian border, a single winter weather advisory is in place in Minnesota for St. Louis County. Two to 4 inches of snow are likely in this area.
"Lake effect snow showers off Rainy Lake are expected to create conditions ranging from locally moderate snowfall with quick reductions in visibility to dry weather just a few miles away," the NWS advisory reads. "Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions."
Finally, in Alaska, two winter weather advisories are in place, one for Petersburg Borough and another for Hyder, where "a strengthening system incoming from the west will push warm air northward Wednesday afternoon with a wintry mix."
"Wet and dense" snow is expected before more cold air moves in, when snow will become increasingly fluffy and dry.
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