Thanksgiving 2018: Traffic, Weather Conditions In Minnesota

MINNESOTA — As Minnesotans take to the highways for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is asking travelers to plan ahead and check road conditions before they begin their trips.

“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year and knowing where travel might be delayed or congested will help make the trip safer and less stressful,” said Commissioner Charlie Zelle in a statement.

AAA forecasts more than 54 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this week, which is the highest travel volume in more than 12 years, according to a MnDOT news release.

Motorists may encounter work zones even though no workers or construction vehicles are present.

Travelers in the Twin Cities will continue to see detours, lane reductions and detours for some of the longer term projects. These projects include the I-35W north to I-94 west ramp and the I-94 east to I-35W south ramp, which are closed.

From Blaine to Lino Lakes, there is an active work zone with shoulder closures and no shoulders in areas and no cable median barrier along I-35W. Southbound I-35 is reduced to two lanes with narrow shoulders between Highway 8 in Forest Lake and Highway 97 in Columbus.

In Greater Minnesota, Highway 14/15 in New Ulm is still under detour all winter. Two projects on Highway 60 between Cottonwood and Wantonville counties have restricted lanes through Nov. 30.

“Allowing extra time for travel and being prepared for changing weather conditions, which affect roadway conditions, will make safer roadways for everyone,” Zelle said.

Although the weather looks like it will cooperate for those traveling throughout much of the state, MnDOT crews will be out as necessary. Rain might develop in some areas of the state, but warmer temperatures should keep the precipitation from turning to ice or snow in most areas until the weekend when the possibility of snow exists.

MnDOT asks motorists to slow down, not drive distracted and travel a safe speed for the current conditions, which sometimes means lower than the posted limit.

Here's the Twin Cities forecast for the next seven days from the National Weather Service:

Today: Scattered flurries before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 27. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. South southeast wind around 10 mph.

Friday: Rain, mainly after noon. High near 43. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Rain likely before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow between midnight and 2 a.m., then a chance of snow after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 32. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. West northwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 27. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 30. North wind around 10 mph.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

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