After rain and snow in the eastern US: a Thanksgiving without weather stress

Heavy rain and snow that could hamper morning traffic in parts of the eastern United States on Wednesday was expected to end by afternoon, giving way to a quiet Thanksgiving for much of the country, forecasters said.

A storm that began late Monday and continued Tuesday night was expected to dump up to two inches of rain in some areas from the Gulf Coast through the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast. The National Weather Service said snowfall of up to six inches was possible in parts of New Hampshire and northern Maine, leading to what forecasters called a “white Thanksgiving.”

Much of the precipitation was expected to end by Thanksgiving, although snow was possible in the northern Rocky Mountains, the High Plains and the Pacific Northwest. South Texas could also see some light rain, forecasters said. Temperatures should be at or slightly below what is typical for this time of year in most of the country.

Winds could increase along the Northeast coast, but it doesn’t appear they will be strong enough to keep the beloved parade balloons from flying in Manhattan.

During the trip home, travelers could see some light rain along the East Coast, especially in Florida, but as of Tuesday evening forecasters had seen no risks of excessive rain or intense winter weather outside the higher elevations of the Rockies.