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November 21, 2001 — Thanksgiving week weather brings milder-than-normal weather for most of the nation and the possibility of rain to the dry East Coast, especially late Friday night and into Saturday. As people pack their bags for travel on what is traditionally known as the busiest travel time of the year, NOAA meteorologists are forecasting mild weather for the country on Thanksgiving Day. Yet, over the weekend, a new pattern develops and ushers in an active precipitation system and cooler temperatures, especially for opposite corners of the country with the Northeast and the Southwest experiencing wet weather by Thanksgiving weekend. (Click NOAA weather map for Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001 for larger view. See link below to see latest weather map.)

"Caused by a significant shift in the jet stream coming down across the southern half of the country, this new weather pattern is predicted to pick up moisture from the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, re-routing circulation patterns that will affect day-to-day weather across the nation through this coming weekend," said NOAA meteorologist David Reynolds. He added, "this is a major shift in the storm track that will break the pattern we've experienced since September."

Beginning Friday, November 23, lasting through Sunday, November 25, here's what the nation can expect:

• In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, welcome rains and seasonable temperatures.
• The Southeast should be mild with chance of showers.
• In the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, unsettled and turning cooler by the end of weekend.
• The northern Great Plains and Rockies, mountain snows and seasonable temperatures.
• In the Northwest, periods of valley rains and mountain snows and cooler temperatures.
• In the Southwest a developing storm system will bring a threat of heavy rains and mountain snows by Sunday.
• The rest of Alaska turning colder.
• Hawaii, chance of showers late in the weekend.

Relevant Web Sites
Today's National Weather Map

NOAA's 3-7 Day Forecast

NOAA's 6-10 Day Forecast

U.S. Threats Assessment

NOAA's Storm Watch

NOAA's Weather Page

Media Contacts:
Carmeyia Gillis, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, (301) 763-8000 ext. 7163 or John Leslie, NOAA's National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622