LAKE-EFFECT SNOW POUNDS GREAT LAKES; BLIZZARD WARNINGS HIT UPPER MICHIGAN
Whiteouts and 45 mph winds are snarling Thanksgiving travel across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and parts of Wisconsin and New York, with power outages and treacherous road conditions likely to disrupt truck and parcel flows through the weekend.
U.S. THANKSGIVING ONLINE SALES ON PACE TO RISE 6%, LIFTING PARCEL DEMAND
Salesforce data show U.S. shoppers are set to spend $8.6B online today, up 6% year over year, signaling solid parcel volume for carriers heading into Black Friday despite macro headwinds and tariff uncertainty.
OIL SLIDES ON CEASEFIRE HOPES; HOLIDAY FUEL PRESSURES EASE FOR FLEETS
Crude dipped around 0.5% amid expectations a Ukraine ceasefire could unlock Russian barrels, a move that would support lower diesel costs as fleets navigate peak-season routing and weather delays.
LIVE: THANKSGIVING WINTER STORM TRACKER SHOWS HEAVY SNOW, FLIGHT DELAYS MOUNTING
A developing system threatens up to 3 feet of snow in some lake-effect zones, with 2,000+ flights delayed—conditions that could cascade into missed line-haul connections and last-mile delivery slowdowns through early next week.
MIDWEST, GREAT LAKES BRACE FOR POST-THANKSGIVING STORM AS 82M AMERICANS TRAVEL
NWS watches span IA–MN–WI–MI with 6–10 inches possible Friday–Saturday, setting up hazardous conditions on key freight corridors and complicating returns for drivers trying to get back on the road after the holiday.
ILLINOIS UNDER WINTER STORM WATCH; HEAVY SNOW THREAT COULD SNARL I‑70/I‑55 FLOWS
Forecasters warn of 4–8 inches for parts of the state late Friday into Saturday with a snow-to-rain mix near I‑70—conditions that may force speed restrictions and dispatch adjustments for truckload and LTL carriers.
‘SIGNIFICANT’ SNOWFALL LIKELY AROUND JACKSONVILLE, IL; NWS URGES DELAYED TRAVEL
Central Illinois could see 4–7 inches with slick bridges and overpasses and 25 mph gusts, prompting fleets to prep detours and staging plans for Saturday pickups and store replenishment runs.
UPSTATE NEW YORK: LAKE-EFFECT SNOW RAMPING UP; WORST CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY
Forecasters flag dangerous bursts along I‑90 and I‑81 with rapidly changing visibilities, a key risk for linehaul schedules and grocery replenishment heading into Black Friday traffic surges.
BUFFALO WINDS TOPPLE TREES AS STORM STRIKES; HAZARDOUS GUSTS FOR HIGH-PROFILE RIGS
Powerful gusts and lake-effect squalls are already causing damage, underscoring rollover and debris risks for trucks operating in Western New York through the holiday weekend.
WYOMING I‑80: EXTREME BLOWOVER RISK PROMPTS HIGH-PROFILE VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS
WYDOT reports dangerous crosswinds and closures to light/high-profile vehicles on I‑80 near Arlington and Medicine Bow—plan alternate east-west routings to avoid weather-related incidents and delays.
CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES SLIDE AS RECORD HOLIDAY ROAD TRIPS BEGIN
Average regular gas in California fell to $4.57, easing operating costs for last‑mile fleets and seasonal couriers, with further declines expected into the weekend as refinery issues abate.
DIESEL AVERAGE EASES TO $3.831 AHEAD OF HOLIDAYS; REGIONAL SWINGS VARY FOR FLEETS
EIA’s latest shows national on‑highway diesel down 4 cents with the Rockies seeing the steepest declines, offering slight relief on fuel surcharges as carriers brace for weather‑driven inefficiencies.
UPSTATE NY TRAVEL ALERT: GUSTY WINDS TODAY, MAJOR LAKE-EFFECT SNOW TO FOLLOW
A powerful cold front and subsequent lake-effect bands will complicate freight movements on the Thruway and secondary routes, with rapid visibility drops and slick pavement expected through Friday.
U.S. GASOLINE AVERAGE AT $3.06 BEFORE HOLIDAY RUSH, LOWEST REAL PRE‑THANKSGIVING SINCE 2020
EIA data show national regular at $3.06 with regional divergence; cheaper pump prices support household road trips while mixed diesel trends keep a closer eye on fleet operating costs.
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