**Upcoming Winter Weather Threatens Thanksgiving Travel as West Coast Recovers**

Forecasters across the United States have issued alerts warning that winter weather could disrupt travel plans as Thanksgiving approaches. California and Washington state are still dealing with the aftermath of recent storms, including power outages and storm damage. In California's Sierra Nevada, a winter storm warning has been issued from Saturday through Tuesday, with predictions of heavy snow and potential wind gusts up to 55 mph. An estimated 4 feet of total snowfall is expected, with the heaviest accumulations projected for Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Midwest and Great Lakes regions are forecasted to experience rain and snow by Monday, and the East Coast is expected to be hit hardest on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. A low-pressure system is projected to bring rain to the Southeast on Thursday before moving northward. Cities from Boston to New York might see rainfall and breezy conditions, with the possibility of snowfall in northern New Hampshire, northern Maine, and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there may be more rain and less snow in the mountains.

Meteorologist Hayden Frank from the National Weather Service in Massachusetts mentioned, "The system doesn't look like a powerhouse right now. Essentially, this will bring rain to the I-95 corridor, so travelers should be prepared for wet conditions. Unless there's a significant drop in temperature, it appears it will be rain."

For post-Thanksgiving travelers, no major storm systems are expected to impact travel for the weekend across the country. Colder temperatures are anticipated in the East, while the West is likely to warm up. Around 36,000 residents in the Seattle area remain without electricity following the strongest atmospheric river of the season, characterized by a long plume of moisture formed over the ocean.

The storm that recently brought rain to New York and New Jersey, areas that have been experiencing uncommon wildfires, also delivered heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. This precipitation is expected to alleviate drought conditions following an unusually dry fall. Bryan Greenblatt, a meteorologist in Binghamton, New York, noted, "It's not going to be a drought buster, but it's definitely going to help when all this melts."

Northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains, saw significant snowfall, with higher elevations reporting up to 17 inches. Scranton and Wilkes-Barre had less snowfall, and around 35,000 customers in 10 counties remain without power, down from 80,000 the previous day. In New York's Catskills region, about 10,000 people were still without power two days after the storm.

Additionally, precipitation in West Virginia has started to address the state's worst drought in at least two decades and has also benefited ski resorts preparing for the winter season.