A huge winter storm poised to deliver some of the season’s heaviest snowfall across the Rockies and Central U.S. is expected to severely disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel for millions of Americans heading home.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, a jet stream dip paired with Arctic air entrenched across the northern U.S. will trigger the development of a low-pressure system over the central Rockies and Plains by the weekend, delivering snow from Friday through early Saturday.
A multi-inch snowfall is forecasted for the Rocky Mountains’ higher elevations, while Denver is expected to pick up 1–3 inches by Monday, ending a snowless streak that has lasted more than 200 days. (RELATED: Flight Tower Evacuated At Atlanta International Airport As Severe Weather Disrupts Thanksgiving Travel)
5–8 inches of snow are expected in the Midwest through portions of Iowa, Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Cities such as Chicago (Illinois), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Des Moines (Iowa) and Madison (Wisconsin) are poised to experience heavy snow.
Your return trip from Thanksgiving could be an issue if you’re traveling across the Plains, Midwest or Great Lakes. Check here to see if and when the winter weather could disrupt your holiday travel plans. https://t.co/i55KvcugKL pic.twitter.com/85HNVYXGUV
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) November 25, 2025
The FOX Forecast Center noted that locally higher snowfall totals are possible, particularly near the Great Lakes region.
As millions start to head home from Thanksgiving beginning Friday, snow is likely to cause significant travel disruptions at major airports including Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, Detroit Metropolitan and Milwaukee Mitchell International.
Travel disruptions could persist into Monday.
As the weekend progresses, the snow will shift farther east, bringing impacts to the Northeast and New England.
