A cross-country storm system threatens to disrupt holiday travel plans for those hitting the road or taking to the skies in the days leading up to Christmas. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts a significant winter storm impacting a large swathe of the United States, from the Pacific Northwest to New England. This system is expected to bring heavy snow, strong winds, and significantly colder temperatures, potentially causing delays and hazardous travel conditions. However, the good news is that this disruption is likely to be short-lived, with conditions improving closer to Christmas Day itself and warmer temperatures predicted for much of the country during the holiday week. Travelers embarking on their journeys later in the holiday period are expected to face fewer weather-related obstacles.
The storm’s initial impact will be felt across the northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes regions. The NWS predicts snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches between Wednesday and Saturday morning. Accompanying the snow will be strong, gusty winds, further complicating travel by reducing visibility. The northern Rockies and high plains are also bracing for these challenging conditions. As the storm progresses eastward, it will bring heavy snowfall to parts of northern Wisconsin before reaching New England later in the week. New England can expect a sharp drop in temperatures, plunging 15 to 20 degrees below normal, with single-digit readings possible. This cold snap, however, is expected to be brief, with temperatures moderating by the weekend.
The western United States will also experience its share of disruptive weather. Washington state, Idaho, Oregon, and Northern California are forecast to receive heavy rain, heavy mountain snow, and strong winds early next week and on Christmas Day itself. These conditions are likely to impact both air and road travel. AccuWeather predicts potential air traffic delays from San Francisco to Seattle. Mountain passes, such as Donner Pass in California and Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, could become treacherous for drivers due to heavy snowfall and reduced visibility.
While the northern and western parts of the country grapple with snow and wind, a separate, weaker storm system will bring rain to parts of the central United States. States including Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and eastern Texas can expect a wet Christmas Eve. However, this system is not anticipated to cause major travel disruptions. Overall, the most significant travel impacts from these storm systems are expected in the days leading up to Christmas, with conditions improving as the holiday approaches.
Looking ahead to Christmas Day and the following week, a warmer weather pattern is expected to prevail across much of the United States. The Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-average temperatures from Christmas Eve through December 30th. This warmer trend will be widespread, with only southern Florida expected to experience average temperatures. Cities like Los Angeles are projected to reach the high 60s on Christmas Day, while Chicago and New York City can anticipate low-to-mid-40s. Dallas is even expected to surpass 70 degrees. This warmer weather outlook provides a welcome respite for holiday travelers after the pre-Christmas storms.
Despite the improving weather forecast for the Christmas holiday itself, the pre-Christmas travel rush is expected to be substantial, and the early week storms could exacerbate existing travel challenges. AAA projects a record-breaking 119.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home between December 21st and January 1st. The vast majority of these travelers, around 107 million, will be driving. Lower gas prices compared to last year are likely contributing to this high number of road trips. Hertz reports strong rental car demand in several popular destinations, including Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa. AAA cautions that nationwide road travel times could be up to 30% longer than usual, with some major metropolitan areas, such as Boston, New York City, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., experiencing delays twice as long as typical. The worst travel times by car during the pre-Christmas weekend are predicted to be between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, December 23rd; 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 22nd; 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st; and 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, December 20th. Air travel is also expected to be busy, with a projected 7.85 million air travelers, exceeding last year’s record of 7.5 million. However, air travelers should be aware that flight prices are 4% higher than last year, with average domestic ticket prices reaching $830.
