Wintry weather could impact out-of-state Thanksgiving travel plans

Highs will be above average for much of Thanksgiving week, and the holiday itself should be brisk and beautiful, according to Elizabeth Gardner.

Posted 11:00 a.m. Nov 25, 2019 — Updated 5:29 a.m. Nov 26, 2019

RALEIGH, N.C. — Afternoon highs will be above average for the days leading up to Thanksgiving, and the holiday itself should be brisk and beautiful, according to Elizabeth Gardner.

Although the mornings will stay cold, Tuesday and Wednesday will have highs in the mid-60s, and the Fayetteville area could hit 70 by Wednesday.

Raleigh Temperature Tracker

A cold front moves across the region on Wednesday, bringing a chance for rain and gusty winds on one of the biggest travel days of the year. WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said the best shot at rain will be around lunchtime and in the early afternoon.

Thursday will make for a beautiful Thanksgiving Day. The day will be brisk and colder, with a high in the upper 50s, and there will be plenty of sunshine.

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Across the country, some aren't so lucky. From California to Michigan, 20 million people are under winter weather advisories, watches or warnings, CNN reported, and that could complicate out-of-state travel plans.

California could see flash flooding and snow, while the Midwest could see 10 to 15 inches of snow over the next few days. In the Northeast, gusty winds could delay air travel or ground balloons at Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

Black Friday in the Triangle will be dry and cooler, with lows in the upper 30s for people waiting in line overnight for store openings and highs in the mid-50s.

Temperatures are expected to fall into the low 50s for the weekend as people pack up their fall decorations and get ready for winter. But a chance of rain returns on Sunday, when many people will again be traveling at the end of the holiday weekend.