Updated Nov. 24, 2019 3:03 PM
A storm streaking across the center of the country could cause major delays for those traveling ahead of Thanksgiving.
The timing of the storm coincides with the peak of travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the daily number of travelers will increase throughout the holiday week until Wednesday.
After bringing cold and snow to parts of the Northwest for the start of the week, a storm will gather in the center of the country on Tuesday. Intensification will allow the storm to bring snow, as well as gusty winds from Colorado and Wyoming, to Michigan and Wisconsin, through Wednesday.
High Plains: Monday night into early Tuesday
"The storm moving into Colorado will intensify east of the Rockies, bringing a mound of snow for southeastern Wyoming, northern Colorado and western Nebraska, into early Tuesday," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Snow in northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska, will be the heaviest and steadiest Monday night through midday on Tuesday, before the storm shifts eastward into the central Plains.
Conditions on roads, such as interstates 25, 70, 76 and 80 will deteriorate quickly as the snow piles up.
Snowfall amounts are likely to be approaching the 12-inch mark before the snow is said and done for many in the region, while the highest elevations will have over a foot.
In addition to the accumulating snow, winds will be increasing as the storm moves off to the east. This could lead to blowing snow, reduced visibility and drifting snow.
Blizzard conditions will be possible from far northeastern Colorado, through central Nebraska.
The hardest-hit areas in Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska, will be dry Tuesday night and Wednesday, but more precipitation could arrive by the morning of Thanksgiving.
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Central Plains: Tuesday morning into Tuesday evening
Throughout the day on Tuesday, the storm will shift east and begin moving more quickly, bringing a swath of plowable snow from central Nebraska to southeastern Minnesota, by the end of the day.
Generally, a swath of 3-6 inches of snow is expected to accumulate in the region.
"The blustery conditions, along with and behind the storm will likely lead to blowing snow for many, making accumulations difficult to measure," Roys added.
Motorists on Interstate 29 from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Rock Port, Missouri, and on Interstate 80 from North Platte, Nebraska, to Des Moines, Iowa, should use caution.
The combination of a blanket of snow and the gusting wind will likely make for poor visibility on the roads, and will likely make for tricky driving for high profile vehicles.
The afternoon and evening commute in Omaha could be lower than usual.
The exception to the blowing snow will be in places like southern Nebraska, northern Kansas, and far-southern Iowa, where precipitation will begin as rain or a wintry mix before changing over to snow. However, even without blowing snow, dangerous travel is still possible in this region.
Travel conditions look to improve on Wednesday, with chilly and dry conditions across this region; however, more precipitation could stream back into the area on Thanksgiving Day.
Upper Midwest: Tuesday night into Wednesday
After a quieter day Tuesday across the majority of the Great Lakes, the storm will approach the region late on Tuesday afternoon.
"Conditions will likely deteriorate quickly across northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota into Wisconsin, during the evening," said Roys.
Parts of interstates 35, 39, 90 and 94 will have snow becoming steadier throughout the night.
Cities like Milwaukee, Chicago and Indianapolis, will have rain for the evening commute on Tuesday, which may still lead to travel disruptions.
As the snow and rain comes down, gusty winds will persist around the intensifying storm. Blowing snow and wind-driven rain will reduce visibility for anyone out and about at night.
Widespread snowfall amounts of 3-6 inches are expected from southern Minnesota up into southern Ontario, however a swath of more than half a foot of snow is also likely across northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
By Wednesday morning, the center of the storm will be over Lake Huron. However, impacts are likely to continue across much of the region.
Snow will still be falling across northern Lower Michigan, Upper Michigan and much of Wisconsin, on Wednesday morning.
Gusting winds will continue across the region as well, creating some lake-effect snow southwest of Lake Superior. In a steadier band of lake-effect snow, snow accumulations may exceed a foot.
As the storm moves even farther east throughout the day on Wednesday, conditions in the Upper Midwest will improve. Snow will taper off by midday, with winds dying down by the evening hours.
Dry conditions are expected across the Midwest on Thanksgiving Day.
Download the free AccuWeather app to get a more detailed forecast for your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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