Savage Thanksgiving snowstorm to unleash ‘full-fledged blizzard’ as states alert for ‘major whiteout’

Surrounding regions are warned to expect ‘multiple feet’ of snow, as emergency services brace for weekend chaos.

The winter deluge will stretch the holiday into next week as winter arrives bearing its teeth.

AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter said: “We expect snowfall rates of two to three inches per hour and locally more intense, which can close roads around the eastern Great Lakes.

“Multiple feet of snow will pile up in the most persistent snow bands, and state and local governments may enact travel restrictions or travel bans for a time in the areas where heavy snow bands persist.

“A full-fledged blizzard can occur in areas downwind of the Great Lakes, including parts of the Buffalo and Cleveland metro areas, with snow falling at the rate of two to three inches or more per hour, complete whiteouts and winds gusting to 50 mph or even higher.”

Heavy snow will be driven by storms whipping up between cold and warm air boundaries.

While temperatures plummet across northern states, to the south and west the mercury will hover at spring-like highs.

Cold air from the North Pole pushing into milder air from the tropics will create a firework box spitting out vicious storms.

Weather Channel meteorologist Danielle Banks said: “There could be a few travel hiccups as a developing area of low pressure brings rain to the mid-Mississippi Valley and parts of the Ohio Valley, and that precipitation keeps travelling east.

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“The cold air is a bit limited, but some snow could mix in on the northern edge of that rainfall for starters creating some slippery roads, and then we have some heavier snow that will build around the Great Lakes and the northeast which will be accompanied by strong winds which will create some limited visibility issues for drivers.

“Moderate snowfall with some isolated higher totals is expected as we get closer to Thanksgiving.”

Families heading out for Thanksgiving are warned to take extra care on slippery and snow-logged roads.

The winter deluge will sweep the Great Lakes first before moving north-eastwards into New York and surrounding regions.

AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: “”This cold air outbreak will bring much lower temperatures and allow road surfaces to quickly cool and the snow to accumulate.

“Road conditions will quickly transition from wet to slushy to snow-covered with icy spots.”

AccuWeather’s Grady Gilman added: “While there is some risk of a heavy snow band shifting into Buffalo, New York, briefly, most of the time, winds will be from the west and northwest and will direct the heaviest snow from the towns south of Buffalo to western New York’s ski country.”

Snowfall across eastern states during early winter is often driven by the ‘Lake Effect’ as the first cold of the season arrives over warm waters.

Air moisture above the lakes cools quickly as temperatures drop, leading to heavy snow and winds.

Lake snow can move quickly across the surrounding states bringing early winter disruption.

Jim Dale, US meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “There will be heavy snowfall this week around the Great Lakes as cold air moves in from the north.

“This Great-Lake snow is going to be a potential issue.”