Holiday travel forecast

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and the days leading up to tend to be some of the busiest travel days during the year.

Wednesday's weather is looking very messy up and down the east coast.  Cold air mixing with an off-shore low will create several inches of snow in the northeast and rain along the coast.  I'm sure there will be many airport delays/cancellations out east that could affect airports around the country.  In the Midwest, a fast moving clipper system will slide through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and central Illinois.  This will bring light, but accumulating, snow to areas like Minneapolis, Des Moines, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, Peoria, and Springfield.  Closer to home, light snow could be possible Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

Thursday is looking a little better for the Midwest, but cold again.  High pressure will settle south while lingering flurries will move east out of Chicago.  Snow is likely for northwest Indiana and Michigan during the day.  The big system in the east on Wednesday will have moved on, but still some accumulating snowfall is likely in the northeast.

By Friday, a warm front will lift through northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.  Snow is likely from parts of the Dakotas into Minnesota and Wisconsin.  And depending on where the front lies by Friday afternoon and evening, snow or even a mix could occur in northern Illinois.