Will bad weather hitting the U.S. upend Thanksgiving plans for Beaufort County travelers?
A low pressure system sweeping across parts of the nation east of the Mississippi River is likely to upend travel for the millions of Americans trying to reach Thanksgiving destinations. And the Lowcountry is not out of the clear.
Light rain will continue to linger in the area Tuesday, but by nightfall and into Wednesday morning, a low-end severe storm risk could bring locally damaging winds and isolated tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service’s Charleston Office.
Beaufort County could be pelted with up to 1 inch of rainfall. Small craft advisories will likely be needed for portions of the state’s coastal waters through Wednesday night, the service said.
National forecasters expect the system to exit the East Coast “just in time for Thanksgiving.”
The Airport Airspace Analysis reports that nearly 4.7 million Americans are flying for the holiday this year, which is a small fraction of the total 55 million travelers in total. It’s the third-highest Thanksgiving travel forecast over the past 23 years, the AAA said.
The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is anticipating up to 80,000 total passengers traveling during the week of Thanksgiving, according to previous Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reporting. The busiest travel days are predicted to be Wednesday through Sunday.
For those traveling out of state, inclement weather may have an even greater impact.
- Traveling to New England? The NWS predicts some snow and freezing rain over the interior area into Wednesday.
- The lower Mississippi Valley? Thunderstorms to hit early Tuesday.
- The Appalachians and the interior Mid-Atlantic? Thunderstorms will increase Tuesday evening.
What about the northern Rockies to northern High Plains? Snow is forecast to develop.
From the central Gulf Coast up through to Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, into the Midwest and the southern part of the Great Lakes? The NWS says to expect rain.
As of Tuesday morning, there were no delayed arrival or departure flights at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport or the Hilton Head Island Airport. There were 585 total delays within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday, according to FlightAware.
The cold front will push offshore later Wednesday and dry weather will set in, NWS Charleston Meteorologists said. By Thursday, the service expects “quiet weather” to settle into the Lowcountry. However, another low pressure system could track across the region late into the week and stay through the early weekend.
Beaufort County weather breakdown
Tuesday: Showers through the evening. High near 74, low around 63. South wind between 14 and 18 mph, with gusts up to 28 mph.
Wednesday: Showers and a possible thunderstorm before 10 a.m., then showers likely. The evening will be partly cloudy. High near 70, low around 46. Southwest wind between 11 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Thanksgiving: Mostly sunny day and clouds in the evening. High near 63, low around 50.
This story was originally published November 21, 2023 at 10:06 AM.
