Memphis, TN – Travelers across the Midwest and Mid-South may face significant disruptions heading into Thanksgiving week, with forecasters warning of a multi-day stretch of heavy precipitation from Illinois to Texas. The National Weather Service Memphis office says the pattern will begin early next week and could affect peak holiday travel across several states.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, an unsettled storm system will develop Monday and intensify through the middle and later portion of next week. Current outlooks favor 2 to 5 inches of total precipitation across much of the region, with a low-probability scenario supporting totals up to 7 inches along a broad corridor stretching from the Midwest to the Southern Plains.
Forecasters say precipitation type remains uncertain, noting that temperatures will play a key role in determining whether parts of the Midwest or Mid-Mississippi Valley experience cold rain or transition into wintry conditions. If colder air presses farther south than expected, some locations could see a white Thanksgiving, though confidence remains low.
The heaviest precipitation is expected from Wednesday through Friday, directly overlapping with some of the busiest travel days of the year. Impacts may be felt along major interstate routes including I-55, I-57, I-40, I-44, and I-30, in addition to air travel hubs from Chicago and St. Louis to Memphis, Little Rock, and Dallas.
The National Weather Service notes that while confidence in exact timing and precipitation type remains limited, the risk of travel disruptions is increasing. Officials encourage travelers to monitor updates closely as the forecast evolves.
