Winter Wonderland Woes: 15 States Brace for Challenging Christmas Travel Due to Snow

What’s New

Winter storms are likely to disrupt Christmas travel this week in 15 states as snowfall occurs across the Northeast, Great Lakes, certain areas of the Southwest, and in Alaska.

Why It Matters

This year, millions of Americans are expected to travel for the holiday season. A forecast from the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimated that over 119 million Americans will cover at least 50 miles for their year-end festivities. Almost 8 million Americans are anticipated to travel by air.

The primary reason for airline delays and cancellations is attributed to weather conditions, as reported by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) site. Approximately 63 percent of annual delays arise from adverse weather. Conditions can also impede road travel, and the National Weather Service (NWS) has released several warnings regarding slippery roads as of Monday.

What To Know

Weather advisories have been issued for winter conditions in Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana, California, New York, Nevada, Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, Alaska, and Wyoming.

Most of these alerts indicated minor travel inconveniences, especially during the morning and evening rush hours. Nevertheless, in at least two of the states, the weather is severe enough that NWS meteorologists advise holiday travelers to proceed with caution.

Weather warnings specifically highlighting challenging holiday travel have been issued for Alaska and Nevada. Most warnings do not mention holiday travel, but roads may be slippery or snow-covered.

Numerous alerts refer to snowfall, with some regions of the country anticipating several inches, particularly in elevated areas. Additional alerts indicate that strong winds could pose further challenges.

The majority of alerts are scheduled to expire on Tuesday, suggesting that travel on Monday or even early Tuesday morning may be particularly hazardous. However, those in Alaska and Nevada will continue to face alerts expected to last until Wednesday.

Hazardous travel conditions have been identified for various highways, including in Alaska and Nevada.

What People Are Saying

NWS meteorologist Liz Jurkowski informed Newsweek: “The Buffalo, New York, area will not experience snowfall amounts substantial enough to really impede travel. Snow is expected to begin in western New York around 10 p.m., moving towards eastern New York by around midnight. It should taper off throughout Christmas Eve morning, maintaining cold enough temperatures for a white Christmas.”

NWS office in Reno, Nevada, in a winter weather advisory: “Expect slippery road conditions. These dangerous conditions could affect holiday journeys as well as the Tuesday morning and evening rush hours. Strong winds may result in damage to trees and power lines.”

NWS office in Fairbanks, Alaska, in a winter weather advisory: “Visibilities will be dramatically reduced due to blowing snow. Chills could dip as low as 25 below zero, creating a risk of frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.”

NWS office in Gray, Maine, in a winter weather advisory: “Even light accumulations of snow can gather on roads, creating treacherous driving conditions owing to snow-covered roads. These hazardous conditions may interfere with the Tuesday morning commute.”

What Happens Next

Most warnings will end on Tuesday, implying that some last-minute holiday travelers could find a clear route to their destinations. Travelers are advised to stay informed about weather warnings from their local NWS offices before beginning their journey.

Update 12/23/24, 2:43 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a new map.