Massive Storms Loom Over US, Endangering One of the Year’s Busiest Travel Weeks

CNN
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Inclement weather throughout both the western and southern regions of the United States poses flight disruptions as millions of holiday voyagers gear up to conclude the year.

With expectations of one of the most hectic travel weekends of the year approaching, another wave of intense thunderstorms is anticipated to strike the South on Saturday, bringing along powerful tornadoes, destructive winds, and sizable hail from Louisiana to Alabama, as reported by the National Weather Service. Additionally, other areas nationwide will experience ongoing effects from a series of Pacific storm systems through the weekend, characterized by strong winds, rain at lower elevations, and substantial snowfall in mountainous regions, according to the weather service.

Following nearly 800 flight cancellations within, entering, or departing the US on Thursday, over 50 additional cancellations have already been recorded for Friday, according to the flight tracking platform FlightAware.

On Friday, one of the top three busiest travel days of the season, the Storm Prediction Center has issued warnings for a mix of potent to locally severe thunderstorms affecting parts of the central Gulf Coast stretching into central Mississippi and Alabama. The risks include large hail, damaging wind gusts, and potential tornadoes.

By Saturday, the hazards related to severe weather will escalate from north-central Louisiana to west-central Alabama.

“We have an intensifying concern that many storms with severe weather risks will develop on Saturday,” remarked meteorologist Evan Bentley from the Weather Service said. “As this is a particularly active time for holiday travel, we want to ensure that individuals in that vicinity or traveling through the area remain informed about the weather risks.”

Thursday saw tumultuous weather affecting the South, with a tornado watch issued for western and central Louisiana as well as far southeastern Texas until 3 a.m. ET. This watch encompasses Lake Charles and Alexandria, Louisiana, along with Port Arthur, Texas.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency response teams on Thursday in preparation for the extreme weather conditions, as he announced on X.

“As Texans and visitors from other states commence traveling following the Christmas holiday, it is essential for everyone to frequently check road conditions, formulate an emergency plan, and follow the advisories of state and local authorities,” Abbott stated in a press release.

Plans of travelers were also disrupted in New Jersey, where a massive sinkhole emerged along Interstate 80 in Wharton, prompting the state’s Transportation Department to close the interstate eastbound for urgent sinkhole repairs.

Severe weather is sweeping through the US as an unprecedented number of travelers are anticipated to conclude 2024, as reported by AAA. The organization estimated that 119.3 million individuals will travel 50 miles or more from their homes between December 21 and January 1. This marks an increase of 3 million travelers compared to the same time frame last year.

The Transportation

The Security Administration anticipates screening close to 40 million individuals from December 19 to January 2 – a 6% rise from the previous year. Some of the most crowded travel days will be Friday and Monday, the TSA declared.

Although much of Thursday’s US flight cancellations were centered around Dallas-Fort Worth, the sequence of storms may affect the East Coast by Sunday, potentially resulting in further delays for those returning home after the holidays.

On the West Coast, an active weather system is causing rounds of coastal precipitation, strong winds, snowfall in mountainous areas, and hazardous waves as holiday travelers head home this weekend.

Wet travel conditions are set to persist on Friday, with rain projected to extend from the Midwest down to the Gulf Coast. The Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes are expected to experience temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than average.

After a slight risk of severe storms on Friday across the South, the threat is predicted to escalate again on Saturday. The weather service indicated that damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes are probable across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama through Saturday.

A level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms has been issued on Saturday from north-central Louisiana through much of central Mississippi into far west-central Alabama, as per the Storm Prediction Center.

“It seems that all forms of severe weather and hazards could manifest, including large hail, damaging wind, and tornadoes as storms progressively develop east-northeastward on Saturday afternoon and Saturday night,” the center cautioned.

Cities facing the highest risk include Shreveport and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, along with Jackson, Mississippi. Areas such as Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham, and Montgomery all have a diminished chance of storms on Saturday.

Regarding Sunday, some severe weather risk is anticipated across the Southeast, but this risk is expected to diminish by early next week, according to the weather service.

Rain and snow persist across the West Coast

A tempestuous pattern continues to affect the western US throughout the weekend. Mountain snow, coastal and low elevation rain, alongside breezy conditions will influence the Northwest into the Northern Rockies on Friday and this weekend.

High wind warnings are in place across the lower elevations of the Northwest and Northern California, where winds ranging from 40 to 60 mph and isolated gusts surpassing 65 mph are anticipated.

“Destructive winds will topple trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are anticipated. Travel will be hazardous, particularly for larger vehicles,” cautioned the National Weather Service.

The winds are contributing to elevated waves along most of the West Coast, where a series of high surf and coastal flood warnings are in effect.

Winter weather advisories are active across parts of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Rockies, as waves of moisture persistently impact the West. Snow amounts of 6 to 18+ inches and gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph could impair visibility, make travel nearly unfeasible, and cause destruction to trees and power lines.

The next in a succession of storms fueled by atmospheric rivers is expected to bring another wave of coastal and valley rainfall, mountain snow, strong winds, and high surf to the West on Friday, with additional storms potentially affecting the region on Saturday and Sunday.

By the close of the weekend, rainfall totals between 3 to 5 inches are expected through the Washington and Oregon Cascades, the northwest California coastal mountains into the northern Sierra, while snowfall of 1 to 3 feet is likely in the highest elevations of the Northwest. Wet weather across the Northwest could also lead to river flooding and mudslides, the weather service cautioned.

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