Indianapolis, IN – Holiday travelers across Indiana could see a wetter and potentially wintry pattern develop during the Thanksgiving travel window, as federal long-range outlooks show above-normal precipitation across the state from November 23 through November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook issued Saturday, nearly all of Indiana is included in a 40–50% probability zone for above-normal precipitation. This places the state within a broader, moisture-rich corridor stretching from the central Plains into the Great Lakes. With seasonal temperatures trending close to normal, parts of northern Indiana—especially around Fort Wayne and South Bend—may be cold enough at times to see wet snow or mixed precipitation.
Central Indiana, including Indianapolis, sits in a region where temperature swings could determine whether precipitation falls as chilly rain or slushy, early-season snow. Meanwhile, southern areas such as Evansville remain firmly in the above-normal precipitation category, though warmer conditions may lean more toward rain during most events.
The Thanksgiving travel period is historically one of Indiana’s busiest, with significant road traffic on I-65, I-69, and I-70. Even light snow or cold rain can slow travel speeds, and timing remains the biggest unknown. Forecasters note that individual systems will not come into sharper focus until short-range models begin tracking them early next week.
Still, the pattern itself is notable. For many years, a wetter-than-normal 8–14 day signal ahead of Thanksgiving has corresponded with impactful travel weather across portions of the Midwest and Great Lakes.
Travelers should monitor updated forecasts throughout the week as timing, temperature, and storm track details become clearer.
