Michigan Could Get Snow on Thanksgiving Day

If you're planning a Thanksgiving drive, you're going to want to know the Michigan Thanksgiving Day forecast, from experts, to find out what kind of conditions will likely be out there. Yes, Turkey Day is on the way, and people often plan way ahead when it comes to Thanksgiving travel plans. The holiday is a big time for traveling on the road, because some people take bigger trips that involve flying for Christmas, instead. In fact, last year, AAA stated that most Americans (89%) travel by car. In comparison, 8.5% travel by plane for the holiday.

The experts at the Farmer's Almanac have released their Thanksgiving Day and November weather forecasts. Looking at trends across the country, the Farmer's Almanac says that for temperature, they're predicting a "warm November overall from the Great Lakes over to much of the East Coast," as well as near to above normal temperatures "from the Upper Midwest through much of the central and northern Plains." The really warm areas of the country will be from Oregon down to California with "warmer than normal" conditions, as well as a warmer November for Alaska. The chillier areas of the country will be along the gulf coast and from the Rockies towards Washington State, as well as, get this, Hawaii. Of course, "cooler" for Hawaii is probably not very cold.

As for Michigan, the Farmer's Almanac states that for the month of November, in the Midwest, "There should be a fair amount of sunshine from the Upper Midwest over to most of the East Coast." They add that, "Travel weather should generally be pretty good in the days leading up to festivities with fairly mild or cool (but not frigid) conditions. That's certainly good news for airline hubs such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Detroit, and Charlotte." For Thanksgiving, specifically, they stated, "Rain and wet snow Thanksgiving. Colder." So, make plans now for what could possibly be dicey traveling on Turkey Day.

Now, we still have a ways to go until Thanksgiving, so time will tell how this forecast stands up. In fact, Dr. Michael Riemer, a meteorologist at the JGU Institute of Atmospheric Physics, tells Newswise that, "Research has repeatedly reached the same conclusions: We can predict the weather up to 14 days in advance at best." Newswise adds that, "Unlike the tides and the orbit of planets, the atmospheric system has an intrinsic limit that represents a natural and ultimate boundary beyond which prediction is no longer possible."

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"