New Jersey Thanksgiving Weather Could Get Messy

Thanksgiving is a time to be with beloved family and friends, which means it also involved traveling. November is a strange month weather-wise across the U.S. Some years, November brings all kinds of extreme weather, from snow in the north to heavy rain in the south. But, other years, November is really mild, bringing the perfect travel weather. So, what will the weather be like this year? Looking at the new forecast, New Jersey Thanksgiving weather could be dicey, so be warned.

When it comes to holiday travel, this season is going to be a big one. According to AAA, 55.4 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. That's a big increase over last year, with 2.3% more people traveling. Those projections also mark the third-highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA started tracking holiday travel in 2000. The only years with more travel were 2005 and 2019. As for the mode of transportation, most people will drive this holiday, according to AAA. But, 4.7 million people will fly over the Thanksgiving holiday, which is 6.6% higher than in 2022. That's also the most Thanksgiving folks flying since 2005.

Now, let's look at weather predictions, via the National Weather Service. While the past few weeks have been pretty quiet for weather across the U.S., the latest forecast models predict some volatile weather coming up. For those traveling early, from Nov. 16 through Nov. 19, snow is possible in the upper Midwest, especially upper Wisconsin and Michigan. A storm system is likely to organize in the East, bringing heavy rain to the New England area and Northeast. This could disrupt travel quite a bit. Finally, forecasters predict the same storm system to bring heavy rains down South.

For New Jersey, the pre-Thanksgiving forecast looks pretty good, with this weekend being mostly to partly sunny throughout the state, with a chance of some light rain on Saturday. But, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving could get messy. Right now, the forecast for the state calls for heavy rain on both days before clearing out for sunshine on Thanksgiving day. Stay safe this holiday, and if the weather looks hazardous, wait to hit the road.

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it's often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don't mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That's true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That's because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They'll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won't break the bank.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it's a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage's Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name "Little Bavaria." Frankenmuth is also home to the world's biggest Christmas store.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It's a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won't break the bank.

You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn't think to go to "Sin City" for Christmas. Of course, it's much less the "sin" part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it's not as crowded as other times during the year. It's also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don't forget the many holiday markets.

Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that's doesn't mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It's a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What's more, it's a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won't have the fight the crowds.