UPDATE: Approximately 72 million Americans are bracing for disruptive winter weather this holiday weekend. Wind alerts and snowstorms are sweeping from the High Plains to the Northeast, threatening to derail travel plans just as families prepare for Christmas.
A massive weather system is advancing eastward through the northern Great Lakes, with wind gusts potentially reaching 60 mph in several regions. The most severe conditions are expected across Appalachia, New England, and coastal Maine. Rain and wind will continue to batter communities from Washington, D.C., to Boston until late evening.
Travelers on the West Coast, particularly in California, should prepare for significant disruptions throughout Christmas week. After recently dodging severe storms, California is poised to face heavy downpours starting this weekend, leading to urban flooding and potential river overflow. Forecasts indicate that lower and mid-level areas could see several inches of rainfall, with the highest totals impacting west-facing mountain slopes.
Airports in the Northeast are bracing for major delays due to adverse weather conditions. Lake-effect snow is expected to blanket the region before a slight improvement later in the evening. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty warns, “A somewhat larger clipper storm will affect parts of the Upper Midwest and Northeast from Monday to Tuesday.” This storm is anticipated to cause the most significant travel disruptions on Tuesday, particularly from the northern tier of states through Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains and into upstate New York.
In the Sierra Nevada and parts of the Cascades, meteorologists predict multiple feet of snow at higher elevations, further complicating travel. AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno cautions that snow levels may drop to pass levels, potentially leading to hazardous travel conditions.
While the weekend outlook appears calmer with lingering winds and snow in the Great Lakes, states avoiding the winter storm are on track for one of the warmest Christmases recorded. Temperatures could soar into the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit across at least a dozen states, potentially shattering daily records from Texas to Missouri and Georgia on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
New Yorkers hoping for a white Christmas may be disappointed, as the holiday is expected to be dry and comfortable, with temperatures in the mid-40s. However, there is a slight chance of light snowfall early next week. “Even if we were to get a small accumulation, it would melt by the time we got to Christmas,” noted AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick. He added, “A white Christmas in New York City is quite rare,” with only six instances of over an inch of snow on Christmas Day in the past 156 years.
As weather systems continue to develop, travelers are urged to stay informed and plan accordingly for what could be a chaotic holiday travel period.
