Thanksgiving weather forecast across the US: Where the snow is heading

Traveling to your Thanksgiving destination may be smoother than heading home, with a cross-country storm potentially bringing widespread rain and snow Friday through Sunday.

Here's a look at the Thanksgiving week weather forecast:

Several states hit with blizzard conditions before holiday

Thursday

Most of the country will be dry on Thanksgiving.

But in the Great Lakes region, the lake-effect snow machine will turn on and start dumping snow to the downwind side of the Great Lakes through Friday.

A lake-effect snow warning is in place for places including Orchard Park, New York, and Watertown, New York, from 1 a.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Saturday, with 10 to 20 inches of snow possible in these areas.

Syracuse, New York, is also under a winter storm watch, with 3 to 8 inches of snow in the forecast from Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning.

New York City could see wind gusts up to 35 mph with temperatures in the lower 40s, feeling like the lower 30s.

Friday

On Friday, a new storm system will begin moving cross-country from the Pacific Northwest.

The storm may bring snow on Friday to the northern Plains -- from the Dakotas to Iowa.

Saturday

On Saturday, rain is possible from Missouri to Louisiana, while snow is possible from Illinois to Michigan, including Chicago and Detroit.

Sunday

By Sunday afternoon and evening, this system may bring rain to much of the East Coast.

Sunday is predicted to be the busiest air travel day for Thanksgiving.