Weather
Missouri Thanksgiving Travel: Winter Storm Concerns Nov. 18–24?
Kansas City, MO – Thanksgiving travelers across Missouri could face a significantly wetter wea…
By Evan Cross · 2026-11-11T05:32:29.078Z
Kansas City, MO – Thanksgiving travelers across Missouri could face a significantly wetter weather pattern heading into November 18–24, raising concerns about developing storms, heavy rain, snow, freezing rain and potentially icy roads as the busy holiday travel period approaches.
According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, its November 10 outlook favors above normal precipitation across Missouri and much of the nation's Heartland from Wednesday, November 18, through Tuesday, November 24.
The widespread precipitation signal stretches from the western United States into the central Plains, Midwest and Mississippi Valley. Portions of the central Plains reach 70–80% probabilities of above normal precipitation, placing Missouri near one of the strongest areas of the broader wet pattern.
Kansas City, St. Joseph and Western Missouri Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs and St. Joseph could experience periods of unsettled weather as the precipitation pattern develops.
Travelers along Interstate 70, Interstate 29 and Interstate 35 should monitor forecasts for potential rain, thunderstorms or mixed precipitation if colder air arrives.
St. Louis and Eastern Missouri St. Louis, St. Charles, O'Fallon, Wentzville, Chesterfield and surrounding communities are also within the region favored for above normal precipitation.
Developing storm systems could affect travel along Interstate 70, Interstate 44, Interstate 55 and Interstate 64.
Snow or freezing rain could become concerns if temperatures fall sufficiently during periods of precipitation.
Columbia, Jefferson City and Central Missouri Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton, Sedalia and surrounding communities could experience periods of rain as the wetter pattern expands across the state.
The Interstate 70 corridor between Kansas City and St. Louis will be particularly important for Thanksgiving travelers monitoring changing weather conditions.
Springfield, Joplin and Southern Missouri Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Lebanon and West Plains could also see unsettled conditions during the November 18–24 period.
Rain and thunderstorms are potential concerns across southern Missouri, while freezing precipitation would require colder surface temperatures.
Thanksgiving Travel: Could Winter Storms Develop? The elevated precipitation signal arrives ahead of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, increasing attention on possible weather disruptions during the days leading into the holiday.
Although NOAA's accompanying temperature outlook favors above normal temperatures across much of Missouri, colder periods could still support snow, sleet or freezing rain.
The 8–14 day precipitation outlook measures the probability of above normal precipitation, not the probability of a specific winter storm or ice storm.
Missouri residents should monitor updated forecasts as November 18–24 approaches, particularly for storm timing, rainfall intensity, temperatures and potential highway impacts.