More than a million Washingtonians can expect wet, breezy weather as they go over the river and through the woods to whichever relative is hosting Thanksgiving.
Chances of rain in the valleys and low-lying areas will increase starting Wednesday and through the weekend, the National Weather Service in Pendleton, Ore., predicts. Higher elevations — including Snoqualmie Pass — could see snow.
“The biggest thing is to take a look at the weather,” said Summer Derrey, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman. “We see a higher amount of collisions around the first snowfall.”
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, along with Independence Day and the Christmas season, said Dan Coon, spokesman for AAA in Seattle. He said 1.06 million people in Washington are expected to hit the roads this holiday weekend, about 10,000 more than last year.
An improving economy paired with low gas prices are encouraging more people to travel this weekend, Coon said.
Average gas prices in Yakima County were $2.58 a gallon as of Monday evening, about 11 cents less than in October, according to Gasbuddy.com, a gas market tracking website.
While traffic will be heavy on Snoqualmie Pass, Derrey said patterns will favor residents of Yakima and Kittitas counties. Traffic is expected to be heavier eastbound Wednesday, Derrey said. Sunday will see heavier traffic going west.
But Coon said traffic also is expected to pick up Friday in southeastern Washington, as the University of Washington plays Washington State University in the Apple Cup game in Pullman.
In addition to rain, the weather service is expecting winds up to 10 to 12 mph Thursday and Friday, said Mary Wister, a weather service meteorologist.
Coon and Derrey said drivers should be prepared for the weather before they head out, including having a maintenance check on their vehicle, and be alert for changing weather conditions while they’re driving.
