Storms Threaten Thanksgiving Travel: See Early NJ Forecast

The busiest travel time of year could be impacted by a storm system moving through New Jersey, according to an early Thanksgiving forecast from AccuWeather.

The details aren't entirely set in stone yet, but the system moving northeast across the country could make for some rainy and slick roadways the day before Thanksgiving, forecasters predict. However, it all depends on the track the storm takes.

"There is the potential for travel delays related to rain, slick conditions and poor visibility from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast states from Wednesday to Wednesday night, but that depends on the track, strength and forward speed of the large storm system," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "The storm will be losing some of its intensity and moisture as it travels from the Central states to the Northeast, but given the travel volume, even a few hours of rain can create significant problems on the roads and runways from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston."

Behind that system will be a cold front which, depending on the timing, could make Thanksgiving a rainy day for New Jersey.

It could also impact parades in New York City and Philadelphia, though it's not clear if it will.

"At this time, we believe strong winds behind the front will hold off in New York City until the afternoon or evening and should be relatively light for the large balloons during Thanksgiving morning," Pastelok said. "However, if the front is faster, winds may kick up sooner."

The National Weather Service noted that forecast models for the long-range vary, settling on a 30 to 40 percent chance of rain for next Wednesday. They have not released a forecast for any date past then.

The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center reports that milder temperatures are in store for New Jersey leading up to Thanksgiving. However, a drastic change is likely during the holiday weekend, with temperatures below normal. For New Jersey, that's highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s, according to the National Weather Service.

Patch will share updates as the Thanksgiving forecast solidifies.