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The Only Thing More Predictable Than Thanksgiving Weather? Travel Nightmares.So, another... The Only Thing More Predictable Than Thanksgiving Weather? Travel Nightmares.
So, another Thanksgiving, another round of breathless weather "alerts." Give me a break. Every year it's the same song and dance: "Millions will travel! Prepare for doom!" As if we haven't all lived through enough holidays to know the drill.
AAA projects like 82 million people are gonna be hitting the roads and skies this year. And offcourse, there's gotta be some kind of weather event to make it all extra special. This time, it's coast-to-coast storms. Central and Southern US? Showers and thunderstorms. Northwest, Midwest, and East? Chilly temps, rain, and snow. Sounds... festive.
The Usual Suspects: Snow, Rain, and General Misery
We're talking about potential blizzard conditions near Lake Superior. An "atmospheric river" (whatever the hell that is) threatening flooding in the Pacific Northwest. And, because it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it, "lake-effect snow" turning parts of the Great Lakes into a whiteout zone. You know, the kind where you can't see five feet in front of your car?
AccuWeather is warning about "several inches of snow" impacting major interstates. Translation: pack your chains, your patience, and maybe a flask of something strong.
And then there's the Pennsylvania forecast. Rain today, they say. Mild temps tomorrow, soaring into the 60s. Then BAM! Cold front, windy conditions, and maybe even some snow showers. Seriously? One day of warmth before getting kicked in the teeth by winter? It's like the weather is actively mocking us. Rain showers move through south-central Pa. Tuesday before temperatures rise Wednesday
Is There ANY Good News? (Spoiler Alert: No)
Okay, okay, let's try to be positive for a second. Uh... the rain will be "light" in some areas? And maybe the "feels like" temperature won't be quite as brutal as the actual temperature? Nope, I got nothing.
The real kicker is that this all happens right when everyone's trying to get somewhere. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are supposed to be the worst for traffic. Thanksgiving Day itself? Windy and chilly in the Northeast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic. Black Friday shopping? Prepare for "feels like" temps in the teens and twenties. Joy.
What I want to know is: why do we keep doing this to ourselves? Why subject ourselves to the stress, the expense, and the sheer misery of holiday travel? Is it really worth it for a few hours of awkward conversation and dry turkey?
Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. Maybe everyone else actually enjoys sitting in traffic for eight hours while listening to their relatives argue about politics. Maybe I'm the only one who'd rather stay home with a pizza and a good book.
Can We Just Cancel Thanksgiving?
Look, I'm not saying we should abolish Thanksgiving entirely. But maybe we could, I dunno, scale it back a little? Instead of flying across the country, how about a Zoom call? Instead of driving for six hours, how about ordering takeout?
I know, I know, it's not the same. But let's be real: is the "same" all that great to begin with? The stress, the crowds, the weather... it all adds up to a holiday experience that's more like a punishment than a celebration.
So, What's the Point of Even Trying?
Honestly, the whole thing is a sham. They tell you "be prepared", but how can you really prepare for this level of meteorological chaos and family dysfunction? You can't. You just gotta brace yourself, accept the inevitable, and hope you make it through with your sanity (and your car) intact.