Pair Of Storms Could Hit PA Ahead Of Thanksgiving

PENNSYLVANIA — A pair of storms may put a damper on one of the busiest weeks of the year as many plan to travel ahead of Thanksgiving.

"Heavy rain, gusty winds and even snow are expected as a pair of storms is forecast to join forces in the eastern half of the country next week. This could wreak havoc for millions during some of the traditionally busiest hours of pre-Thanksgiving travel," according to Accuweather.

Possibly impacting travels, a pair of storm systems coming from the Canadian border will be making its way east and could bring a variety of impacts along with it.

By late Tuesday and early Wednesday, the storms will merge in the eastern Great Lakes, Appalachians and Eastern Seaboard, spreading heavy rain and gusty winds all the way to the coast, according to Accuweather.

Before the storms approach, Pennsylvania residents can enjoy some warm weather on Thursday and Friday.

"A very pleasant day is expected after a chilly start. Temperatures warming to near 10° above normal this afternoon. It'll be a little warmer tomorrow, but with increasing clouds. Some light rain will occur Friday night, but nothing to write home about," wrote US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly.

Temperatures will hit a high of 65 degrees on Thursday and 67 degrees on Friday before beginning to drop into the low 50s this weekend.

While next week will start with plenty of sunshine and dry weather on Monday, rainy weather will creep in on Tuesday.

"Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, a soaking storm can track from the central U.S. toward the East, complicating travel plans," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.

More people are expected to travel this Thanksgiving than the previous year, according to AAA, who said 55.4 million travelers will be venturing at least 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving, which would be an increase of 2.3 percent over last year.

The busiest travel days are predicted to be Wednesday, Nov. 22, and the three days after Thanksgiving, according to AAA.

The heaviest rain from the newly-formed storm could be soaking a portion of the East Coast, especially in parts of New England which may coincide with the busiest times to travel between 2 and 6 p.m. on Nov. 22.

However, the exact times for heavy rain are too early to target, says Glenny. She said the speed of the storm will be key in determining when and where the downpours erupt.

"A main factor to monitor with this storm will be how quickly it can exit New England," she said.

For now, let's take a look at the upcoming forecast:

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 68. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 35. Breezy.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.