Things will get off to a quiet start for Thanksgiving week in the Chicago area, but big changes are in the forecast that could potentially cause serious travel headaches in the days to follow.
According to the latest forecast from the NBC 5 Storm Team, Monday will be a pleasant day in the city, with temperatures topping out around 50 degrees and early morning clouds giving way to sunshine.
Unfortunately, that is where the good weather will likely end, as a low pressure system will slowly churn its way toward the state. Tuesday will dawn cloudy, but rain is expected to move into the area and persist throughout the day, bringing down temperatures and causing rough travel conditions for the Tuesday evening commute.
Things will get even more treacherous Wednesday as holiday travel begins in earnest. A mix of rain and snow is possible in the area early Wednesday morning, but even as the precipitation comes to an end, the real threat will begin to emerge: strong, gusty winds, some of which could exceed 50 mph, according to forecast models.
The winds, coming out of the northwest as the low pressure system begins to move out of the area, could impact travel on area roadways, especially for high-profile vehicles like semi trucks and SUV’s. Sustained winds of 20-to-30 mph are likely, and gusts of over 50 mph will continue throughout the remainder of the day Wednesday.
The windy conditions could also have a significant impact on air travel, as one of the busiest travel days of the year will be affected by the rough conditions.
Winds should begin to calm on Thanksgiving, with temperatures remaining in the low-40s as the holiday weekend gets underway.
Local
For all the latest details on the Thanksgiving forecast, be sure to keep an eye on the NBC Chicago app.
