“Storms Strike: A Holiday Travel Nightmare for Millions Across the Northwest and South”

Snowy and soggy Christmas conditions have resulted in delays for holiday travelers returning home on Thursday as rain and mountain snowfall impact the Pacific Northwest and intense thunderstorms shake the South.

Thirteen million individuals are at risk of severe storms on Thursday over eastern Texas, western Louisiana, and southern Arkansas.

Weather-related travel disruptions are expected to materialize in the southern Plains and the Pacific Northwest due to severe storms, impacting hubs in Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco.

As of 8:30 a.m. ET, there have been more than 1,300 delays in, into, or out of the U.S., according to FlightAware data, along with 42 cancellations.

FlightAware’s Misery Map indicated that Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport experienced the most delays, followed by airports in the New York City area and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

Scattered storms and thunderstorms will impact the south-central U.S. on Thursday, with all types of hazards possible in cities such as Houston, Waco, and Lufkin in Texas, as well as Shreveport and Alexandria in Louisiana.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe storms in parts of the Arkansas-Louisiana-Texas region on Thursday, cautioning about heavy rainfall coupled with a slight threat of flash flooding. The National Weather Service mentioned that heavy rain is expected to persist in the mid-South as it moves eastward into Friday.

Additional strong storms may occur on Friday across Louisiana and Mississippi, with more organized severe storms anticipated on Saturday.

By Saturday, 5 million individuals will be exposed to storms capable of producing hail, strong winds, and isolated tornadoes, potentially affecting Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Lake Charles in Louisiana, alongside Jackson, Mississippi.

The severe threat may continue into Sunday for northern Florida, southern and eastern Georgia, and parts of the Carolinas.

In the Pacific Northwest, a series of atmospheric river events is occurring, generating “moderate to heavy rainfall” and some thunderstorms on Thursday morning, as stated by the National Weather Service in its morning advisory.

The weather system is projected to bring 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, along with flooding risks. This system will progress inland and experience a pause on Thursday afternoon, with another rainfall batch expected by evening and an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain by Friday morning, according to the weather service.

Up to 3 feet of snow could occur in the Cascades, and snow will gradually blanket the northern Rockies through the weekend.

Today, 10 million individuals are under wind advisories stretching from California to Oregon and Washington, extending eastward into Idaho.

Winter storm and high surf warnings are active in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.

The high surf and significant storm swells contributed to the collapse of the Santa Cruz Wharf on Monday, resulting in three people falling into the ocean. Two were rescued from the water, while a third managed to escape on their own. All were treated for minor injuries.

In other regions, dry conditions are anticipated for the desert Southwest, northern Plains, and Northeast U.S. as the week concludes.

This weather disruption coincides with millions expected to undertake holiday travel or return from their trips. AAA predicted that 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from their homes between December 21 and January 1, with 107 million opting to travel by car.

Those in the East Coast racing to return home will experience clear weather conditions on Thursday.

However, road travel may prove challenging in the Northwest mountain passes, and Dallas and Houston may encounter airport delays and roadway slowdowns due to the storms.