Thanksgiving-Week Storms Could Delay NJ Travel Even More

Weather Thanksgiving-Week Storms Could Delay NJ Travel Even More With Thanksgiving travel expected to approach pre-pandemic levels, rain in the forecast could make holiday drives even more difficult. Reply
With Thanksgiving travel expected to approach pre-pandemic levels, rain in the forecast could make holiday drives even more difficult around New Jersey, according to AccuWeather. (Shutterstock)
NEW JERSEY — Storms could add headaches for New Jersey drivers during what could become the busiest week of Thanksgiving travel since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to forecasters.
Fortunately for Garden State residents and visitors, meteorologists expect calm weather in the area through Thanksgiving. But rain could develop on Black Friday, when many Americans travel home or hit the shops. AAA predicts that 54.6 million people, including 48.7 million on the roads, will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving — a 1.5 percent increase over last year and 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
A cross-country storm could bring rain, gusty winds and slippery roads to the region Friday, according to AccuWeather. “While the days leading up to Thanksgiving and the holiday itself are expected to feature largely dry conditions across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, conditions may quickly change as holiday shoppers head out in search of deals next Friday,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.
(AccuWeather) The area of low pressure driving Friday’s storms will move out by Saturday, with uncertainty increasing Sunday, according to a forecast discussion from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office.
In terms of post-Thanksgiving traffic, AAA recommends avoiding travel from 4-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The best travel windows during that span are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 2-8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, the auto club says.
Here’s the National Weather Service’s latest North Jersey forecast: Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Tuesday night: Clear, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Clear, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Wednesday night: Clear, with a low around 33.
Clear, with a low around 33. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Thursday night: A 30 percent chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
A 30 percent chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Friday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Friday night: A chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
A chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.
A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Here’s the agency’s latest South Jersey forecast: