By Sarah Mitchell, Senior Weather Writer at Speaksly.net
November 19, 2025
Picture this: you’ve got the car packed, the kids are finally buckled in, and you’re dreaming of grandma’s stuffing then your phone buzzes with a winter storm warning. Sound familiar? If you’re traveling anywhere in the Northeast or Midwest this Thanksgiving, that nightmare might actually happen this year.
Forecasters are watching a nasty storm barreling across the country right now, and it’s got a lot of us wondering: will Thanksgiving 2025 go down as the one with the big holiday snowstorm?
Here’s what’s really going on no hype, just the facts I’ve pieced together from the latest National Weather Service updates, AccuWeather, and long-range outlooks.
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Where the Trouble Starts
Out West, it’s already a mess. Parts of the Rockies and Plains are getting hammered with heavy snow some areas could see 12 to 24 inches before it’s all said and done. That same system is marching east, and by the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday the 26th), it’ll reach the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
For a lot of the Northeast, Wednesday looks wet rain, gusty winds, the usual pre-holiday slop. But here’s where it gets dicey: as the storm pulls away Thanksgiving morning, colder air rushes in behind it. That’s when interior parts of Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could flip to snow.
How Much Snow Are We Talking?
- New York City, Philadelphia, most of New Jersey and southern New England: probably just a chilly rain, maybe a few wet flakes at the end. Travel delays more from wind than snow.
- Scranton, Albany, Burlington, the Adirondacks: 2-5 inches possible, with some higher elevations picking up closer to 8.
- Northern Maine and the higher peaks: 6-12 inches isn’t out of the question.
And then because Mother Nature apparently hates Black Friday another clipper system dives in Friday night into Saturday, bringing another quick shot of snow and ice from Pennsylvania through interior New England. Perfect timing, right?
The Wind Factor No One’s Talking About (But Should Be)
Even if your area dodges heavy snow, the wind behind this storm is going to be brutal. Gusts over 40 mph are likely along the I-95 corridor Thanksgiving afternoon and evening. That means:
- Possible flight delays at Newark, Philly, JFK, and Boston (the day-after-Thanksgiving return rush could be ugly).
- High-profile vehicles (looking at you, rental box trucks) might get restrictions on bridges and turnpikes.
- The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons? They’re iffy if winds top 30-35 mph sustained. Organizers have grounded them before we might see it again.
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The Silver Lining
If you’re staying in the NYC metro, most of New Jersey, Long Island, or coastal Connecticut, Thanksgiving Day itself actually looks dry and cold once the morning rain ends. The Old Farmer’s Almanac (which, let’s be honest, people love quoting this time of year) is calling for a mostly sunny and seasonable holiday across much of the mid-Atlantic. So there’s that.
Bottom Line for Travelers
- Wednesday: rain and wind leave super early or push the drive to Thursday morning if you can.
- Thursday: cold, windy, light snow possible north and west. Roads should be okay along I-95, but secondary routes upstate could get slick fast.
- Friday/Saturday: bundle up and watch for ice if you’re doing the Black Friday thing or heading home Sunday.
I’ve been refreshing the models all morning, and things can still shift a little storms like this sometimes trend north (more snow for New England) or south (more rain, less snow). But right now? If your family dinner is within a couple hours of the coast, you’re probably fine. If you’re driving to the mountains or northern New England… maybe pack an extra blanket and some snacks, just in case.
I’ll keep an eye on this and update as soon as the next model runs come in. In the meantime, safe travels—and hope your turkey doesn’t come with a side of blizzard this year.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Let’s hope the only thing white on the table is the mashed potatoes.
Thanksgiving 2025 Weather FAQs: Your Top Questions Answered
1. Will it snow on Thanksgiving Day in New Jersey?
Probably not where most people live. The NYC metro area, most of New Jersey, Philadelphia, and coastal areas should see rain (maybe ending as a few wet flakes) Wednesday night into early Thursday. By parade-and-turkey time, it should be dry and cold. Real accumulating snow looks confined to northwest NJ (Sussex/Warren counties) and points north/west.
2. How much snow for upstate New York and New England?
That’s where the real action is. Places like Albany, the Adirondacks, Vermont, New Hampshire, and interior Maine could pick up 3–8 inches, with isolated 10–12 inch amounts in the higher terrain Thursday into Friday. Ski country might actually open early because of this storm.
3. Is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade going to have balloons?
Still too early for a final call, but it’s iffy. Wind gusts 35–45 mph are possible Thursday morning in Manhattan. NYC’s rule is no balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or gusts top 34 mph. They’ll make the decision Thursday at 6 a.m. same as every year.
4. When is the worst time to travel by car?
Wednesday afternoon/evening (Nov 26) looks miserable along I-95 from D.C. to Boston rain, wind, and the usual pre-holiday traffic. If you can leave Tuesday night or very early Thursday morning, you’ll thank yourself.
5. Will airports be a disaster?
Expect delays, especially Wednesday night and Friday/Saturday. The combo of low ceilings, rain, and strong crosswinds could ripple through the whole Northeast. Sunday (the big return day) actually looks decent right now cold but clear.
