Storm to rain on Thanksgiving plans, travels in Northwest
A storm on the heels of an atmospheric river will usher in another round of drenching rain across the Northwest through Thanksgiving Day, as well as snow in the mountains.
From South Dakota to Minnesota, intense snow shut down interstates with jackknifed tractor trailers and caused widespread dangerous conditions on the evening of Nov. 25.
Umbrellas and raincoats will be needed across the Northwest through Thanksgiving Day as another Pacific storm approaches the northwestern United States. This storm could create travel problems not only for the Thanksgiving holiday, but also for people heading home immediately following Thanksgiving.
This image of the eastern and central Pacific and the western part of the United States was captured during the early morning hours on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. Two storms can be seen in the image, extending from the Northwest states to the east-central Pacific. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue™ Satellite)
"A flow of moisture from the Pacific will lead to periods of rain and travel delays along the I-5 corridor in Oregon and Washington through Thanksgiving,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger. "This storm won't officially be an atmospheric river, but it will cause some travel problems."
After the early-week storm associated with an atmospheric river moved inland over the Northwest, a second storm moved in and will continue to bring rain and snow to the region into Thursday night.
"While widespread flooding is not expected along the Washington and Oregon coasts and the Interstate 5 corridor with this second storm, there will be slower travel due to road spray and localized downpours," Deger said.
The storm will be less intense than the early-week system, but due to its longer duration, it will maintain a risk of mudslides, particularly near recent burn scars.
Rounds of snow will also occur well east of the Cascades over the northern portions of the Rockies and later the northern and central parts of the Plains.
Snow levels during the storm will be higher than those of the early-week system. Mostly wet travel conditions are expected over the mountain passes through Thursday. As colder air moves over the mountains Thursday night, some wet snow or a rain and snow mix will occur by Friday. However, by that time, the bulk of the storm's moisture will have departed.
"For people driving back home on Saturday and Sunday, the weather will feature improving conditions in the Northwest, as building high pressure will support some sunshine and dry weather," Deger said.
Travelers flying into parts of the Midwest, including Chicago and Minneapolis, could instead encounter the storm again. Delays at destinations from Wichita, Kansas to Deroit are possible as the storm strengthens in the central and eastern U.S. this weekend and produces a more expansive swath of accumulating snow.
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