The national weather alert map from the National Weather Service on Nov. 25, 2025, shows blizzard warnings (in red), winter storm warnings (in pink) and winter weather advisories (in blue) in the north-central U.S.

Forget a white Christmas. Folks across the far northern tier of the nation will see a white Thanksgiving, with mounds of snow likely before the weekend comes to an end.

"In the north-central U.S., a storm will bring heavy snow and gusty to high winds over parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest Tuesday Nov. 25 before moving across the Great Lakes with heavy lake-effect snow Wednesday Nov. 26 into Thanksgiving Day," the National Weather Service said.

Blizzard warnings have been hoisted by the weather service for portions of South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, where "travel could be very difficult to impossible," the weather service said.

Then, yet another snowstorm is likely for much of the north-central U.S. and Midwest over the weekend, which will lead to travel headaches for returning Thanksgiving travelers.

Up to a foot of snow possible, maybe more

The first system is expected to strengthen and expand in size as it begins to interact with another frontal system and will gradually push eastward by Wednesday, Nov. 26, the weather service said. This will bring more snow chances for Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes on Wednesday.

Snowfall amounts will progressively increase from west to east across the northern Plains with highest totals of over a foot likely downwind from the Snow Belt of Lake Superior, according to the weather service.

Second storm will bring travel misery this weekend

The second storm, which has yet to form, will power up over the central U.S. on Friday, Nov. 28, and will continue on Saturday, Nov. 29. According to AccuWeather, motorists and airline passengers in a large portion of the Plains and Midwest will encounter substantial travel delays Saturday, Nov. 29. Planes in the snow zone will need to be deiced.

Major cities in the path of the snow include Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit.

The storm will continue during Saturday night over a large part of the Upper Midwest, AccuWeather said. On Sunday, Nov. 30, the area of snow and wintry mix will expand into the interior Northeast.

Snowfall tracker: See how much snow fell near you

Wondering how much snow has fallen near you? USA TODAY's detailed map below lets you explore snowfall accumulation over the past 24, 48 and 72 hours. You can also check seasonal totals starting from Oct. 1.

Updated multiple times daily, this tool provides the latest snowfall data. Toggle between timeframes to see how snowfall is adding up in your area.

United States weather alerts

The interactive map below shows all of the weather alerts (warnings, watches and advisories) currently in effect from the National Weather Service. This map is updated every 15 minutes.

Preparing your home for snow, cold

Well before winter storm advisories begin, make sure you've taken steps to ensure your home and family is fortified against the cold, advised Kari Goelz, emergency management director for Grand Forks County, North Dakota. "Prepare for the worst day," for example a winter storm so severe that you lose power and can't leave your home for a week.

Here are some tips to stay safe when it gets cold:

  • Make sure your home can be safely heated.
  • Always have supplies on hand for up to 10 days, in case you’re without power or can't leave home, including non-perishable food, medicines, water and pet food.
  • Have your furnace checked.
  • Is your snow blower working?
  • Keep out the cold with caulking and weather stripping, and check to see if repairs are needed.
  • Check batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Are your water pipes protected? Some people insulate their pipes, some wrap with heat tape. Others let their faucets drip a little to prevent frozen pipes.
  • Use battery-powered lights and flashlights, and have back-up batteries.

Preparing your car or truck for snow, cold

  • During winter storm and blizzard conditions, stay off the road unless absolutely necessary, Goelz said.
  • Check the weather before traveling and make sure your cell phone battery is charged.
  • If you have to drive, slow down and be sure your headlights are on.
  • Have a safety kit inside the car in case you get stranded, with blankets, water, non-perishable foods that are high in energy and medication for up to three days.
  • Have enough blankets, clothes and supplies for everyone in your car.
  • If you have to travel, make sure someone knows where you are going to be and when you expect to arrive.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Track snow accumulation from snow storms, blizzards over Thanksgiving

Reporting by Doyle Rice, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect