Wintry Weather Could Cause Thanksgiving Travel Woes

Road crews were preparing for ice Monday night, but Tuesday night they are preparing for possible flooding.

Rain, cold and wind could continue to hamper Thanksgiving travel along the East Coast Wednesday.

The heaviest rain will fall overnight, but with temperatures rising, icing should not be an issue. Expect lighter rain around the morning rush hour before it moves out about 1 p.m.

But then the cold air moves in, brininging the possibility of a few snowflakes in the metro region and accumulation further west in the mountains.

Thanksgiving could be the coldest since 2000, with a high of 37 but wind chills in the 20s throughout the day.

Around dawn Tuesday, areas north and west of D.C. saw a little sleet and wet snow, but it melted on roadways. 

The cold weather isn't just affecting holiday travel. Federal non-emergency employees were encouraged to telework Tuesday, although offices remained open.

While no school closures have been announced, schools in Page and Orange counties (Va.) opened two hours late Tuesday.

Even without a major snow threat along the Interstate 95 corridor, the rain and wind alone will be enough to snarl air, road and eventually rail travel.

About 43 million people are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, and three million of them plan to fly, according to AAA.

One- to three-hour airline delays are likely, and a little rain is usually all I-95 needs to get jammed up. Leave early, and pack your patience.

WINTRY STORM MUSCLES ITS WAY ACROSS U.S.

Delays are already stacking up as the winter storm system that started in the Southwest on Thursday continues to move East.

The storm has already dumped up to a foot of snow in the mountain regions of Utah and Colorado, and has claimed 13 lives.

Nearly 600 flights were canceled Monday and scores more delayed across the country, according to FlightAware.com. The site showed a "misery map" for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and airports in Dallas Fort-Worth, New York, Denver and Washington, D.C.

The weather led to four fatal storm-related car crashes in Oklahoma over the weekend, and the crash of country star Willie Nelson's tour bus Saturday, injuring several passengers and the driver.

And in some Connecticut, some 1,000 people were left without power after high winds brought down a major power line in parts of the state.

Get the latest weather from NBCWashington.com:

Download our NEW free weather apps for iPad and iPhone. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our e-mail newsletters.

Contact Us