Worsening travel conditions, 60 mph winds forecast ahead of Thanksgiving storm system

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 -A dangerous storm system is charging across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, threatening to upend Thanksgiving travel plans. Strong wind gusts — forecast at 40–60 mph — will combine with heavy lake‑effect snow, creating a high risk of blizzard‑like conditions.

Forecasters expect widespread snowfall of 4–14 inches (10–35 cm) in many areas, with localized snowbands dropping as much as 2–3 feet (about 60–90 cm) in some lake‑enhanced zones such as the Keweenaw Peninsula and the Gogebic Range. 

Key travel corridors — including U.S. Highways 2 and 41 in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, U.S. 53 in northern Wisconsin, and parts of I‑35 in northeastern Minnesota — are likely to become hazardous Tuesday night into Wednesday.

If you were planning to travel this week, the safest play is to get it done early, before the worst hits. Conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly — with slick roads, blowing snow, near‑zero visibility, and possible power outages from falling branches. If you can delay non‑essential travel or at least leave extra time, now is the moment to do it.