Thanksgiving Day travelers are finding snowy and somewhat slippery conditions, especially in the southeast corner of the state.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for southeast Minnesota into central Wisconsin, where roads could be slick into the afternoon. The main snowband is expected to miss the Twin Cities, which should get about an inch.
This will be the Twin Cities' first measurable snowfall of the year. It's the seventh-latest snowfall on record, according to The National Weather Service.
Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s in the south and east metro bringing about 1 to 3 inches of snow Thursday. The Albert Lea and Rochester areas could see as much as 5 to 6 inches.
A low-pressure system is delivering winter weather to the mountain regions out west and will move eastward into the plains Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Winter weather will peak around noon in Minnesota and about 6 p.m. in Wisconsin. The National Weather Service forecasts snowfall to taper off early Friday morning.
Drivers heading out of southeast Minnesota Thursday should be wary of freezing rain causing slippery conditions, said Michelle Margraf, National Weather Service meteorologist for the Twin Cities.
About 42 million Americans are planning on making a road trip for turkey dinner Thursday, and this year they will pay the lowest pump prices for Thanksgiving Day since 2008, according to AAA. Many gas stations in the metro area have been charging less than $2 a gallon in the last week.
Travelers avoiding the roads to fly should expect some delays at airports around the country Thursday. FlightAware, an aviation tracking website, is predicting about 193 flight cancellations and about 2,191 delays Wednesday and more than 46 cancellations for Thursday.
No cancellations are expected at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Wednesday with only a couple delays, said Patrick Hogan, director of public affairs and marketing.
Winter conditions Thursday could also lead to minor delays. The airport's biggest concern, Hogan said, is ice.
Beatrice Dupuy • 612-673-1707
