Post-Christmas Travel Mayhem: Storms Threaten to Ground Millions!

As countless individuals commence their journey back home following the Christmas festivities, they will be contending with inclement weather to conclude the week, with rains, severe conditions, and snowfall anticipated across various regions of the nation.

Traveling in Texas on Thursday proved to be challenging as severe thunderstorms resulted in numerous flight delays and cancellations in both Dallas and Houston.

The wave of extreme weather shifted eastward from Texas Thursday night, paving the way for milder weather on Friday in the Lone Star State.

However, this is not true for the remainder of the South, which is now under a two-day risk of severe weather.

Although Friday’s risk for severe weather is less significant – only a level 1 threat along the Gulf Coast, thunderstorms could hamper travel from Nashville to New Orleans with showers of rain extending northward into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes.

The risk for severe weather intensifies on Saturday. Vast regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama are categorized under level 2 or 3 out of 5 severe weather threat, as per the SPC.

While specifics about the developing threat are still being clarified, the SPC alerts that strong tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds are all possibilities for Saturday, and locals should closely observe the forecasts.

Wet conclusion to the holiday week in the Northeast with a slight ice risk

Just as swiftly as New York City witnessed its inaugural white Christmas in 15 years, mild temperatures and sporadic rainfall are set to wash it all away.

The FOX Forecast Center is keeping an eye on several systems expected to enter the Northeast starting Friday, maintaining a wet and turbulent forecast through the end of the year as millions try to return home.

The first round will manifest as light and sporadic showers as the system responsible for severe weather on Thursday in the Southern Plains diminishes and heads northeast on Friday.

This system might bring a light coating of freezing rain across northern New Jersey, northeastern Pennsylvania, and into south-central New York. Winter Weather Advisories are active from 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday morning.

The second round will arrive on Sunday as energy moves out of the Rockies, drawing additional Gulf moisture northward into New England, resulting in a potential flash flooding hazard for the interior Northeast.

A third system could interfere with New Year’s Eve festivities and necessitate umbrellas for anyone celebrating the conclusion of 2024 in lavish style.

Unrelenting storms continue to hit the West Coast

The Pacific Northwest is living up to its rainy reputation this week as it remains amidst a series of storms coming in from the Pacific through Saturday.

By this weekend, seven different systems will have impacted the Northwest with atmospheric rivers of varying intensities.

Thursday marked the 15th consecutive day of recorded rainfall in Seattle.

Several additional inches of rain are expected to fall across western Washington, Oregon, and northern California.

At lower altitudes, the accumulating impact of repeated rainfall will heighten flood and landslide worries throughout the week.

In the mountainous regions, over 7 feet of snow could accumulate along the higher elevations of the Cascades.

Traveling across mountain passes has varied from challenging to unfeasible at times as heavy snowfall leads to multiple spinouts.