A severe storm currently affecting California’s Sierra Nevada with heavy snowfall is set to impact the Colorado Rockies next, with the potential to move eastward and hit the Appalachian region just in time for Thanksgiving Day. This may lead to challenging travel conditions for millions of Americans traveling for the holiday weekend.

In Denver, a key travel hub, forecasts suggest a couple of inches of snowfall on Wednesday, which might delay flights and hinder travel on Interstates 25, 70, and 80, according to AccuWeather. Following this, the storm is expected to continue moving eastward.

There are still several factors at play that could influence the specific path of the storm and the kind of precipitation it produces, AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno noted.

“The path and strength (will greatly affect) the positioning of the rain and snow line and how much snow falls in the Midwest and Northeast,” Rayno pointed out.

Regardless of the storm’s outcome, the anticipated rain and snow could seriously disrupt travel for tens of millions of people, he added.

Key Updates:

∎ Freezing temperatures could exacerbate travel issues. By Saturday morning, approximately 196 million Americans will face sub-zero temperatures, as reported by Weather.com.

∎ In many areas, temperature readings by the weekend may resemble those typical of mid-January, according to the National Weather Service.

Record Travel Numbers Expected

This week, weather conditions will be critical as the country braces for some of its busiest travel days. AAA anticipates that 79.9 million individuals will travel 50 miles or more from their homes during the Thanksgiving period from Tuesday to Monday. This marks an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to last year, and is 2 million more than in 2019.

Stacey Barber, AAA Travel’s vice president, indicated she expects “new records in all travel categories, including driving, flying, and cruising.”

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has forecast this year’s Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest on record, expecting to screen 18.3 million travelers from Tuesday through December 2. TSA Administrator David Pekoske noted that all of the top ten busiest travel days in TSA history occurred in 2024, and this trend is expected to continue.

Rockies to Receive Up to 4 Feet of Snow

The Colorado Rockies and Intermountain West are forecasted to receive heavy snowfall, with accumulations ranging from 1 to 2 feet expected this week. Some areas could see snow totals reaching up to 4 feet as a cyclone moves inland, according to forecasters.

Peak snowfall is anticipated from Tuesday to Wednesday, with high elevation spots above 9,500 feet expecting 10 to 20 inches of snow, according to the Boulder weather service. Winter weather advisories will begin Tuesday night for the Palmer Divide ridge in central Colorado and the southern foothills of the state.

In the Denver metro area and the Palmer Divide, rain is predicted to be replaced or complemented by snow early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

− Anthony Robledo