Nothing makes holidays like Thanksgiving happier than families getting together to spend a day feasting and catching up on their lives. So, nothing threatens that holiday happiness more than a bad weather warning that threatens to mess up holiday travel plans.

That’s what we have coming up today. The National Weather Service is forecasting six to eight inches of snow across southern Minnesota by Wednesday. It could make traveling to Grandma’s house a dicey proposition for some families.

We know Minnesota highway crews are as dedicated a group as you can have when it comes to cleaning up after a big storm, but even they need time to make snow-filled roads passable.

We encourage people to exercise caution if traveling long distances for Thanksgiving. Take extra time, drive carefully, pack an emergency kit with blankets, food and water, flashlights and batteries for just in case. Check road conditions before heading out by checking the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s road report website (https://hb.511mn.org).

And if things look to dicey, staying home may be the safest course of action.

One could always celebrate Thanksgiving in New Ulm by attending the Community Friends Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. It was on just such a Thanksgiving 33 years ago when bad weather stranded lots of travelers, and the idea for a dinner welcoming anyone and everyone was born.

Whatever your plans, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.