A significant storm system is moving across the country, bringing freezing air and widespread precipitation that could disrupt travel and cause delays at airports during one of the busiest times of the year for travel.

In Colorado, road closures were reported on Wednesday as snow-clearing crews worked to manage major roads. The Federal Aviation Administration indicated that flights departing from Denver and Salt Lake City International Airports were being treated with deicing fluids to clear snow and ice, but there have been no major delays reported yet.

Rain and thunderstorms are anticipated to soak much of the I-95 corridor by late Wednesday and throughout Thanksgiving, affecting areas like Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City, and Boston, as noted by AccuWeather meteorologists. Parts of the Southeast, such as northern Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, will also likely experience rain.

Areas in the Great Lakes region are expected to face severe weather, including heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions. Specific locations in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and western New York could see snow accumulating at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour, resulting in almost zero visibility. Such hazardous conditions have raised alarms from weather experts and local authorities.

Snow Clearing Efforts Underway in Colorado

Many roads across Colorado, particularly in the Denver and Boulder metropolitan areas, were shut down on Wednesday morning due to ongoing snow, creating challenges for Thanksgiving travelers.

One of the affected routes was U.S. Route 50, which was closed for snow removal work, as reported by the Colorado Department of Transportation. This highway stretches across the nation from West Sacramento, California, to Ocean City, Maryland.

The transportation department also announced a temporary halt to a resurfacing project on U.S. Route 34 and U.S. Route 36 until spring. This project would have included upgrades to sidewalks and retaining walls along these significant roads.

“This pause is vital for ensuring the safety of both travelers and workers amid winter weather,” the department stated. “Work is scheduled to restart in the spring until late May 2025.”

Winter Weather Alerts in the Northeast Indicate Dangerous Conditions

In portions of the Midwest and Northeast, winter storm warnings have been issued due to the forecasted heavy lake-effect snow and hazardous driving conditions expected throughout the extended holiday weekend.

Cleveland and Maine anticipate over 7 inches of snow by Tuesday, while the National Weather Service office in Buffalo, New York, expects over a foot of heavy lake-effect snow with wind gusts reaching 30 mph.

“Exact snowfall amounts are still uncertain, but significant periods of heavy snow are likely. Travel may become extremely difficult or even impossible due to poor visibility and substantial snow cover on the roads,” the weather office said in a warning. “Some key roadways may have to close temporarily, impacting travel after Thanksgiving, particularly along Interstate 81.”

Bitter Cold Expected from Arctic Blast in Central and Eastern U.S.

An Arctic air mass is plunging temperatures in the northern Plains, Midwest, and eastern U.S. to lows that have not been seen since last winter.

As sub-zero temperatures begin to settle in across the Dakotas and Minnesota before Thanksgiving, regions around Dallas, Texas, and Atlanta may reach near-freezing temperatures for the first time this season. Chicago could experience single-digit temperatures by Friday morning.

“This cold wave will feel like January and will significantly surprise many people who have become accustomed to milder autumn temperatures,” remarked AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

Meteorologists anticipate that the colder conditions will arrive in waves throughout December, potentially making this month much chillier than last year’s. “We expect December to be a few degrees below the historical average for the Midwest and Northeast, possibly differing by about 15 degrees for the entire month,” Pastelok added.

Traveling for Thanksgiving hits a new high

Approximately 79.9 million individuals are expected to journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving period, from Tuesday to Monday, based on estimates from the American Automobile Association. This marks an increase of 1.7 million compared to last year and 2 million more than in 2019.

Stacey Barber, the Vice President of AAA Travel, expressed her anticipation for “record-breaking numbers across all travel modes, including driving, flying, and cruising.”

The Transportation Security Administration has also projected that this year will see the busiest Thanksgiving travel period ever, estimating that their personnel will screen around 18.3 million passengers from Tuesday through December 2. TSA Administrator David Pekoske noted that all of the ten most congested travel days in TSA history took place in 2024 and mentioned, “we expect this trend to persist.”