Northeast Thanksgiving Week Weather Forecast: Snow, Rain, and Wind on the Way

2023-11-21 01:33:00

BOSTON – The WBZ-TV Weather Team has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for the rather untimely storm system on the way Tuesday night and Wednesday.

It’s been a while since we had a significant storm in New England and, wouldn’t you know it, we have snow, rain and wind on the way as we enter the busiest travel week of the year.

Currently, the storm is taking shape in the middle of the country, bringing rain from Minneapolis to Houston. We’re not expecting much in the way of travel troubles Monday or Tuesday until late.

Tuesday travel forecast

By Tuesday, the storm will be expanding and strengthening as it travels through the Ohio Valley and towards the Mid-Atlantic. Thankfully, not much snow or ice during the day on Tuesday, but plenty of rain from Detroit to Nashville and down through the Gulf Coast. It’ll be a quiet a chilly day in New England with no issues until well after sunset.

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By Tuesday night, as the storm arrives in the northeast, the air will be just cold enough in the elevated areas for some snow to fall.

We expect that between 9 p.m. and midnight, some wet snow will begin to accumulate in the Berkshires and the Worcester Hills, as well as much of southern New Hampshire. Areas around Boston may be able to spot some flakes to start, but with no accumulation or road impact.

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Wednesday weather forecast

Before dawn on Wednesday, the snow will have changed to rain in even the coldest pockets of southern New England.

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The rain will come down heavy at times Wednesday morning through about midday. There may be some brief, localized flooding and ponding on the roads during this time.

By Wednesday afternoon, the storm will be pulling away and the rain will taper to a few scattered, lighter showers and drizzles. The commute home will be MUCH improved from the prior morning drive.

How much snow?

Snowfall amounts will be on the order of 1-3″ and confined to the higher elevated areas. Much of this will be compacted down and melted by the change to rain on Wednesday, along with rising temperatures.

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Over southeast Massachusetts, it will be all rain, however, the winds will be quite gusty.

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Southeast winds could gust over 50 mph along the South Coast, Cape Cod and the Islands Wednesday morning and afternoon.

Farther north, along the immediate coastline from Plymouth to Boston and through the North Shore, gusts will top out mainly between 30 and 40 mph.

By Wednesday evening, the winds will shift to the northwest and peak gusts will drop to between 20-to-30 mph across most of the area.

Thanksgiving weather forecast

Thanksgiving will be a much quieter day.

Expect partly sunny skies in the morning for all the football games with temperatures in the low to mid 40s. Highs will reach the upper 40s to low 50s in the afternoon, but winds will be busy, gusting 20-to-30 mph.

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Enjoy the holiday and safe travels!