“Severe Thunderstorms to Disrupt Holiday Travel from Texas to Alabama!”

CNN
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Holiday travelers heading back home this weekend may face additional delays at airports as intense thunderstorms increase in the South and a succession of atmospheric river-driven storms batter the West.

More flight delays and cancellations might be anticipated this hectic holiday weekend following over 18,000 flights into, out of, or within the United States being delayed or canceled on Thursday and Friday, as reported by FlightAware.com. Moreover, another 570 US flights have already experienced delays Saturday morning.

Following the severe storms that unleashed tornadoes, damaging winds, and sizable hail across regions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on Thursday and Friday, the risk of severe weather is projected to escalate once again across the South on Saturday from Texas to Alabama.

“An outbreak of severe storms featuring tornadoes, wind damage, and large hail is anticipated to emerge from portions of the Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast states,” stated the National Weather Service. “Several long-track tornadoes are expected.”

The most powerful tornadoes might occur late Saturday afternoon into the evening, the weather service reported.

The focus of the threat shifts on Sunday to the Southeast and the East Coast – where tornado-producing storms may develop in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Rain associated with this storm might result in minor travel delays on the East Coast.

Meanwhile, in the West, a persistent series of atmospheric river-driven storms is delivering more rounds of hazardous waves, strong winds, heavy precipitation, and substantial mountain snowfall across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies this weekend. An additional 4 to 6 inches or more of rain and 1 to 2 feet of snow in the mountains is expected.

A prolonged severe storm risk will persist to affect the South on Saturday, likely causing travel frustrations for individuals trying to return home during the last weekend of the year.

“Large hail, destructive winds, and tornadoes are probable, including potentially a few strong (EF2+) tornadoes,” cautions the Storm Prediction Center. “At least some threat of damaging winds/tornadoes will likely persist through late Saturday night/early Sunday, including areas of Alabama/Florida Panhandle, and potentially extending northward into the Cumberland plateau vicinity.”

Tornado occurrences are significantly lower in the US during December, averaging only about 40 – in contrast to nearly 270 observed on average in May.

This year, nonetheless, has maintained an above-average number. As of December 26, there have been 1,777 tornado reports – well beyond the typical average of 1,347 reports.

From eastern Texas to western Georgia, cities such as Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Birmingham might face isolated risks of tornadoes alongside damaging wind gusts and large hail.

On Sunday, the severe storm risk diminishes as it extends to the Southeast, the East Coast, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. This includes cities like Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.

A reduced severe storm risk extends from the Florida Panhandle to southwestern Pennsylvania. Urban areas that might experience some destructive wind gusts and a possibility of tornadoes consist of Atlanta, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Virginia Beach.

Individuals attempting to head back home and those with layovers in the Pacific Northwest should plan for extra travel time and keep an eye on subsequent segments of their return trip during the last weekend of 2024 as storms fueled by an atmospheric river introduce more unsettled conditions.

“The cycle of mid-latitude cyclones moving through the Pacific Northwest is expected to persist through the remainder of the weekend,” stated the National Weather Service.

The storms are anticipated to batter California’s coastline with enormous waves.

The most recent storm in the sequence is likely to approach the coast on Saturday, delivering perilously high waves and strong rip currents along the West Coast – creating hazardous conditions for swimmers.

The most severe coastal circumstances are projected for the Pacific Northwest coastlines and the Bay Area, where waves reaching up to 30 feet may occur over the weekend. High waves, up to 15 feet, could be detected as far south as the Malibu shoreline and extending into Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.

“Hazardous swimming and surfing circumstances and localized beach erosion are anticipated. Large waves can unexpectedly surge onto the beach, dragging individuals into the ocean from rocks, jetties, and sandy shores. Sudden exposure to cold water can induce cold water shock even for the most seasoned swimmers,” the weather service cautions.

Strong winds are predicted to persist over parts of the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, where high wind alerts are active. Winds gusting above 75 mph are conceivable, which might uproot trees and down power lines.

“Widespread power outages are anticipated,” issues a warning from the weather service. “Travel will be challenging, particularly for taller vehicles, in regions along Highway 395 and Highway 95 near Walker Lake.”

Winter weather warnings are active throughout segments of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Rockies as ongoing moisture continues to affect the West. Snow accumulation of 6 to 18 inches and gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph could impair visibility and render travel nearly unfeasible.

In addition to the snowfall, avalanche alerts have been issued for the mountainous areas of northern Utah, encompassing the Wasatch Range and Bear River Range. “Extremely hazardous avalanche conditions are expected to develop on numerous slopes,” cautions the Utah Avalanche Center.

Substantial rainfall is forecasted along the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest and across the lower altitudes of the Cascades. An additional 4 inches of precipitation is probable through the weekend, which could elevate storm totals to nearly 10 inches.