Thanksgiving Travel Warning Issued in Nine States

By Anna Skinner

Senior Reporter

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National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are warning millions of holiday travelers of winter weather conditions that could make for dangerous travel this week.

Poor travel conditions began over the weekend, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski previously told Newsweek, with several major airports and highways expecting more impacts as the week progresses.

Why It Matters

Thanksgiving consistently marks one of the busiest travel weeks in the United States, with the American Automobile Association (AAA) projecting 81.8 million people traveling 50 miles or more in 2025. As the holiday approaches, overlapping winter storm watches and advisories—spanning parts of Alaska, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York—raise the risk of widespread travel delays and hazardous conditions along both highways and at major airports.

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What To Know

As of Monday morning, NWS meteorologists had winter weather advisories in place for Idaho, Montana and Alaska, with winter storm watches spanning even more widespread areas—encompassing North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York.

The winter weather advisories are scheduled to remain in place in Alaska until Monday night. For Montana and Idaho, they are set to remain in place longer, stretching until late Tuesday morning in some locations. As much as 18 inches of snow could fall in higher elevations. In some areas, a glaze of ice could complicate travel, and strong winds could cause blowing snow that greatly limits visibility on the road.

"Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening commute," NWS Glasgow, Montana, said in the winter weather advisory.

The winter storm watches alert hundreds of thousands of people across six states of incoming heavy snow that could make for almost impossible travel conditions through Friday evening in some locations. Other areas are only expecting the poor conditions through Tuesday night.

Forecasters said the combination of snow, wind and drifting could significantly reduce visibility, especially across open stretches of interstate and rural highways. The hazardous conditions are forecast to coincide with the traditionally busiest days for Thanksgiving travel: the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday.

The NWS urges travelers to monitor forecasts closely, ensure that vehicles are equipped with winter survival gear and plan for rapid weather changes. Precautionary statements in all advisories recommend bringing blankets, extra clothing, food, water and a first aid kit in case of stranded travel.

What People Are Saying

NWS Buffalo, New York, said in a winter storm watch: "Whiteout conditions are possible and may make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period. Gusty winds could down tree branches and cause isolated power outages."

NWS Bismarck, North Dakota, said in a winter storm watch: "If you are traveling, take a winter survival kit along with you, including items such as tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, shovel, blankets, and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded."

What Happens Next

The storm pattern affecting Thanksgiving week is expected to remain active, with new advisories possible as systems evolve. The hazardous weather may create compounding delays and ripple effects nationwide, particularly if major airport hubs or interstates experience closures or significant slowdowns. Travelers should monitor their local weather offices and remain alert for any changes to the forecast.

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