55 million travelers hit the road, skies Wednesday for Thanksgiving. What will weather be like?

AAA (the American Automobile Association federation of motor clubs in North America) projects 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

Add to that airline travelers, and those who take a train or bus, and that’s a lot of people moving around from place to place. The weather plays a big part in making holidays run smoothly, or ruining travel plans.

INRIX , a transportation data and insights organization, expects Wednesday, Nov. 22, to be the busiest day on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, with average travel times as high as 80% over normal in some metro areas. Tips for drivers include leaving early in the morning or after 6 p.m. Wedneday to avoid the heaviest holiday congestion. Airline travelers may see the biggest crowds on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward according to TSA.

But what will the weather hold in store for travelers?

Portland may have a damp day Wednesday as forecasters with the National Weather Service are expecting light rainfall at times during the day. There may be some early morning fog, and skies will remain cloudy. Highs should be near 50 degrees. Fog may be heavier and last longer through the southern parts of the Willamette Valley.

The one rub could be in the Columbia River Gorge where overnight freezing temps may join with early light rain to cause slick conditions. It’s possible Interstate 84 will be only wet due to heavier traffic, but side roads and roads into the mountains could be slippery.

Nationwide, the outlook is fairly mild across the country. There’s some chance of snowfall in the very upper northeast and a bit along Washington’s border with Canada.

That said, there is some good chance of freezing rain in the country’s Mid-Atlantic region on Wednesday.

Chances of freezing rain on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, according to the National Weather Service. NOAA

It’s too early in the week to predict (with any certainty) the weather for coming home after the long weekend on Sunday.

There is high confidence temperatures will be very cold in parts of the Pacific Northwest this weekend.NWS Pendleton

The Pacific Northwest is currently looking at a good chance of colder than average temperatures heading into the weekend, but a low chance of any precipitation to join that cold air.

Much of eastern Oregon and Washington will be seeing very high chances of temperatures falling below 28 degrees Friday, but not a huge chance of seeing any snow, according to the Pendleton office of the National Weather Service.

So, bundle up and get out there. Traveling, at least through the Pacific Northwest, looks good for the holiday.

A little Thanksgiving humor provided by our friends at the National Center for Environmental Information. Great job!

— NWS Pendleton November 20, 2023