Fargo, ND – Travelers across both North Dakota and South Dakota may face a wetter and potentially snowy pattern during the Thanksgiving travel window, as long-range federal forecasts show above-normal precipitation across both states from November 23 through November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook issued Saturday, the Dakotas are solidly within a 40–50% probability zone for wetter-than-normal conditions. This region sits near a strengthening early-season cold-air mass across the northern Plains—one that has historically supported early-season snow events when moisture is present.
In North Dakota, major cities such as Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, and Grand Forks appear well within the corridor where temperatures will likely be cold enough at times to support wet snow or mixed precipitation. Even minor systems can produce impactful travel conditions when daytime highs hover near freezing.
South Dakota, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen, shares the same elevated precipitation signal. Western South Dakota—especially the Black Hills region—tends to see early-season snowfall with these late-November setups, while eastern areas may oscillate between cold rain and wet snow depending on timing.
Thanksgiving week commonly brings heavy traffic along I-29, I-90, and U.S. 83, and even light snow or slushy conditions can slow travel across the northern Plains. Air travel may also be affected, particularly at regional hubs in Fargo, Bismarck, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City if precipitation arrives during peak departure and return days.
Forecasters emphasize that while confidence is high for a wetter-than-normal pattern, details on timing and potential snow amounts will sharpen early next week as short-range models begin resolving individual systems.
Travelers across both Dakotas should monitor forecast updates closely as the holiday window approaches.
