South Carolina and North Carolina Brace for Dicey Thanksgiving Weather
Thanksgiving is on the way, and if you’re traveling this holiday season, be careful, because there’s a major winter storm brewing across America. Even if you aren’t expected to get a ton of snow and ice where you live, this storm will impact weather across the country in the form of rain, wind and possibly dangerous weather events. In fact, South Carolina and North Carolina could be impacted by the storms, even if the states don’t get widespread snow.
South Carolina, North Carolina Thanksgiving Weather
Forecasters across the country are saying there’s a risk of “unsettled weather” across much of the U.S. during Thanksgiving week, including Monday through the end of the holiday weekend. The National Weather Service says some areas of the country will get “the coldest air of the season.”
Looking at the eastern half of the country, according to the experts at AccuWeather and their meteorologists, a mix of rain and snow will be in the East on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Depending on how fast the storm moves, it could bring rain or snow to the Tennessee and Ohio valleys and off the Carolina coast.
“A storm has the potential to snarl transit for those even traveling locally across portions of the Midwest and Northeast on Thanksgiving Day, even those chasing Black Friday deals could contend with travel challenges,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
He added, “The possibility may still remain for some to wake up to a white Thanksgiving or see snowflakes fly in areas that typically do not see snow for the late-November holiday.”
Specifically for South Carolina and North Carolina, per Weather.com, the forecast is for rain and possibly thunderstorms on Thanksgiving. In North Carolina, you’re looking at 65 degrees and rain. In South Carolina, it’s predicted to be about 70 degrees with thunderstorms. Friday looks partly cloudy with highs only in the 50s for both states, so it will be much colder.
Make a special note about possible bad weather if you’re traveling. Also, if you’re traveling, you aren’t along. Travel is going to be busy, as AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. That period includes the Tuesday before through the Monday after Thanksgiving Day.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” noted Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
“Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that,” she said, adding, that “AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
The good news is that according to AAA’s gas prices indicator, gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to last season. They state the national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26, and this season, they’re projecting that “falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving.”
Air travel is also expected to hit a new record. Per AAA, 5.84 million people are expected to fly domestically this holiday. That’s an increase of 2% compared to 2023 and even about 11% more than in 2019. So, air travel is way up. Contact me with your travel stories.
