Thanksgiving Storm In VA: See Latest Travel Impacts

VIRGINIA — Weather should remain clear for pre-Thanksgiving travelers in Virginia, but those driving on the holiday could experience hazardous weather conditions. According to the latest forecast, a storm system will bring rain to the DC region Thursday before colder temperatures and chances of snow move in for the weekend.

Accuweather forecasters are monitoring a Thanksgiving storm that will bring rain to Virginia and other Southeastern states Thursday, while parts of the Midwest and Northeast could see snow Wednesday evening to Thursday night. According to the forecast, rain will reach the Ohio River and the southern Appalachians from late Wednesday to Thursday, before approaching the Mid-Atlantic's I-95 corridor and central and southern New England from Thursday to Thursday night.

Thanksgiving travelers who leave early will see fewer weather impacts to the roads until the late night. Wednesday presents a pre-Thanksgiving travel day "with no weather worries in the region," according to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. Come Thursday, rain will advance into the D.C. area overnight into midday.

The National Weather Service cautions that moderate rainfall periods are possible in some ares early Thursday morning before rain ends in the afternoon.

Just as Thanksgiving wraps up, Accuweather expects colder air will move into the eastern U.S. from the northern Plains and Midwest and major lake-effect snow around the Great Lakes. In the DC region, the Capital Weather Gang hasn't ruled out a bit of snowflakes mixed with rain Friday with high temperatures in the 40s. After temperatures dip into the 20s Friday night, a chilly weekend will ensue, with the chance of snow showers and flurries Saturday night into Sunday.

Here's the latest National Weather Service forecast at Dulles International Airport:

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. At night, rain, mainly after midnight. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Thanksgiving Day: Rain, mainly before 1 p.m. Patchy fog before noon. High near 51. Southeast wind 6 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 39. At night, partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. At night, mostly clear, with a low around 23.

When To Avoid DC Metropolitan Area

Highways and airports in Virginia are expected to be congested with projections for record travel over Thanksgiving weekend, the busiest travel holiday of the year. However, the forecasted weather could affect travel even more this week.

INRIX said the best and worst times to travel over the holiday period are (all times local):

• Monday, Nov. 25: 1-5 p.m., worst travel time; before 11 a.m. best travel time
• Tuesday, Nov. 26: 1-7 p.m., worst travel time; before 10 a.m., best travel time
• Wednesday, Nov. 27: 1-5 p.m., worst travel time; before 10 a.m., best travel time
• Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28: Minimal traffic impact expected
• Friday, Nov 29: 7-10 a.m., worst travel time; after 1 p.m. best travel time
• Saturday, Nov. 30: 4-8 p.m., worst travel time; before 1 p.m., best travel time
• Sunday, Dec. 1: noon-6 p.m., worst travel time; before 1 p.m., best travel time
• Monday, Dec. 2: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., worst travel time; before 8 a.m. after 7 p.m., best travel times

The Virginia Department of Transportation expects the heaviest congestion from mid-morning to evening on Tuesday, Nov. 26, all day on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and all day on Sunday, Dec. 1. Pockets of congestion are also expected Saturday, Nov. 30 around shopping destinations. A Thanksgiving travel trends map shows projected congestion on Virginia's major routes based on historic data.

VDOT will lift most lane closures on Virginia's interstates and other major roads from noon Wednesday, Nov. 27 to noon on Monday, Dec. 2, with the exception of semi-permanent work zones. Drivers can find real-time traffic data using Virginia 511. Schedules for the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes are also available.