Thanksgiving holiday weekend forecast

The most active weather will be over the Pacific Northwest into Northern California where a series of storms will bring strong winds, localized heavy rain and snow to the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges causing travel hazards, especially over mountain passes. The northern Rockies will see snow as these storms move further inland on Thanksgiving.

Rain is forecast for parts of the Midwest on Wednesday. As that storm system moves north on Thursday, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan could see a couple inches of snow along with some sleet and light freezing rain.

For those traveling through the Mississippi Valley and Southern Plains on Wednesday, prepare for rain, and possibly localized flooding. Meanwhile, in the Southeast, drought, higher-than-normal temperatures, and strong dry winds are fueling wildfires in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Smoke from these fires may cause reduced visibility and impact travel.

At the end of the holiday weekend, there is a chance for snow and rain, along with gusty winds for northern New England.

Planning a trip? Get your travel weather forecast before and during your trip at weather.gov. And be sure to follow your local news and relevant social media accounts, including NOAA National Weather Service channels.