Turbulent Skies Ahead: Holiday Travel Disrupted by Southern Storms

CNN
 — 

Holiday passengers embarking on what is forecasted to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year are already encountering delays as a severe batch of storms sweeps into the Southern United States.

The intense storms in the region caused the National Weather Service to issue flash flood alerts for Dallas on Thursday afternoon. The FAA mandated ground stops at two Texas airports—Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport—which were lifted at 1 p.m. local time.

Over 700 flights to or from the US have been canceled on Thursday, most of which were either arriving at or departing from Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the flight tracking service Flight Aware.

In New Jersey, a large sinkhole emerged along Interstate 80 in Wharton, in the eastern part of the state, causing the state’s transportation department to shut down the interstate eastbound for emergency repairs to the sinkhole.

Throughout the South, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch for close to 9 million individuals in various parts of southeastern Texas and east-central Louisiana until 7 p.m. CST.

More than 4 million individuals are under a level 3 out of 5 severe storm risk Thursday afternoon in southeastern Texas, including Houston, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The center is alerting about the possibility of multiple tornadoes, including one or two strong tornadoes, and large hail in regions of east Texas during the afternoon and into Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and far west central Mississippi overnight.

The severe storm risk is anticipated to intensify across the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley by Thursday afternoon, expected to persist until the evening as a low-pressure system in the area strengthens.

Storms may potentially bring severe wind gusts, damaging hail, and a few tornadoes to cities like Houston and Austin.

An isolated severe storm risk extends from central Texas to central Arkansas, western Mississippi, and southern Louisiana, including cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock, and Baton Rouge. The total population facing some type of severe storm threat on Thursday exceeds 20 million individuals.

The severe storm risk is expected to decrease across the South on Friday but is projected to rise again on Saturday.

“It seems that all severe-weather modes and hazards could potentially occur, including large hail, destructive wind, and tornadoes as storms gradually develop east-northeastward on Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening,” cautions the Storm Prediction Center.

Cities such as Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham, and Montgomery might experience a reduced likelihood of storms on Saturday.

This sequence of storms could impact the East Coast by Sunday and potentially lead to further delays for travelers returning home after the holidays.

A historic number of travelers is anticipatedto conclude 2024, as per AAA. The organization anticipated that 119.3 million individuals will embark on journeys of 50 miles or farther from December 21 to January 1. That’s an increase of 3 million travelers compared to the same timeframe last year.

Simultaneously, on the West Coast, an extremely dynamic weather system is delivering waves of coastal precipitation, strong winds, mountain snowfall, and hazardous surf throughout the area, as individuals return home for the celebrations.

High wind warnings are currently active across the lower altitudes of the Northwest and Northern California, where gusts ranging from 40 to 60 mph, with isolated bursts exceeding 65 mph are anticipated.

“Destructive winds will topple trees and power lines. Widespread electrical outages are likely. Travel will be challenging, particularly for taller vehicles,” warned the National Weather Service.

The winds are intensifying significant waves along much of the West Coast, prompting multiple surf and coastal flood warnings.

Winter weather alerts are active across sections of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Rockies, as waves of moisture persist in affecting the West. Snow accumulation of 6 to over 18 inches and wind gusts that may exceed 70 mph could lower visibility, render travel nearly impossible, and inflict damage on trees and power lines.

The next in a succession of storms driven by atmospheric rivers is anticipated to deliver additional coastal and valley rainfall, mountain snowfall, strong winds, and high surf to the West on Friday, with more storms potentially affecting the area on Saturday and Sunday.