By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist
Strong winds are likely to add further headaches to Thanksgiving travelers hitting the roadways and taking to the sky across the Northeast around the middle of this week. The winds will whip around a storm that will first unleash snow and blizzard conditions from Colorado to Michigan. As the storm swings eastward on Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year, the gusty weather will charge on as well. "Winds are forecast to increase around the eastern Great Lakes during Tuesday night and become strong and gusty over much of the Northeast from Wednesday afternoon into Thanksgiving Day," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
Widespread wind gusts of 40-60 mph are forecast with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 70 mph most likely near the lakeshores and over the ridgetops. "Increasing winds could end up being very disruptive to travel in the region," Sosnowski said. Motorists, especially those of high-profile vehicles, will need to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel to avoid veering into other lanes on stretches of interstates 70, 77, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87, 90, 91 and 95. Rain accompanying the storm may add further travel difficulties by reducing visibility and creating a heightened risk of hydroplaning while traveling at highway speeds.
At the very least, airline passengers will face more turbulent arrival and departure flights from these hubs. As the storm swings off the coast by Thanksgiving Day, chilly air will be funneled into the Northeast, allowing rain to switch over to snow showers across interior areas. Winds are forecast to remain gusty in New York City on Thanksgiving Day, which could ground some of the most iconic and beloved balloons of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Read more on: accuweather.com
