A powerful winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow to swathes of the U.S. this Thanksgiving holiday week, potentially hampering travel across multiple states, according to forecasters.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said on Tuesday that the system would bring snow, along with gusty to high winds, to parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, then move across the Great Lakes with heavy lake effect snow Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day.
- Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories from the NWS span much of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan as of early Wednesday morning.
- Lake effect snow warnings have been issued in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
- Blizzard warnings are also in force across parts of Michigan and Wisconsin.
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Nov 26, 2025 at 07:10 AM EST
Blizzard warnings for Michigan and Wisconsin as NWS warns travel “could be very difficult to impossible”
As of early Wednesday blizzard warnings are in effect across Michigan and Wisconsin, where the NWS is cautioning that widespread blowing snow could “significantly reduce visibility.” The agency said Wednesday morning and evening commutes could be affected and that strong winds may cause tree damage.
Between 20 and 30 inches of snow could accumulate in Wisconsin’s northern Iron County, according to the NWS.
Areas with blizzard warnings in force include:
Michigan
- Marquette County (until 10 a.m. EST Thursday)
- Alger County (until 7 p.m. EST Thursday)
- Baraga, Gogebic, Keweenaw, Northern Houghton, and Ontonagon Counties (until 7 a.m. EST Thursday)
Wisconsin
- Ashland and Iron Counties (until 6 a.m. CST Thursday)
- Bayfield and Douglas Counties (until midnight CST Wednesday)
“Travel should be restricted to emergencies only,” the NWS said. “If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.”
Nov 26, 2025 at 06:35 AM EST
Thanksgiving travel warning issued as “major snowstorm” to strike
Meteorologists have warned that heavy snow from the system could make post-Thanksgiving travel tricky across parts of the Upper Midwest—as the American Automobile Association expects upward of 80 million people to travel for the holiday.
“A storm over the long holiday weekend is expected to spread snow from the Rockies on Friday to the Midwest on Saturday. Snow could reach parts of the interior Northeast on Sunday,” AccuWeather vice president of forecasting operations Dan DePodwin said in an advisory shared with Newsweek on Tuesday.
Read in full: Thanksgiving Travel Warning Issued As ‘Major Snowstorm’ To Strike
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