Holiday Shopping Forecast Looking a Bit Dicey for Much of U.S.

You are not alone if you feel as if Christmas is creeping up on you earlier than usual this year. The late date of Thanksgiving this year has left less time to get all of those holiday errands done before the big day. Unfortunately for those relying on shipping services to deliver the gifts, Mother Nature may not cooperate over the next week. Forecasters are warning that last-minute shoppers may be facing rain, snow, and other elements that make it more difficult to get to the mall or for packages to be delivered on time. Here is what you need to know.

How the Weather Will Influence Holiday Shopping and Travel

Meteorologists are warning that several far-reaching storm systems are going to send rain and snow across a large part of the U.S. in the days leading up to Christmas. The inclement weather conditions could disrupt both shopping and shipping for those looking to get those gifts wrapped and under the tree.

It has been a cold week for the northern Plains, the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes, and parts of the Northeast. A mass of Arctic air has sent the temperatures tumbling throughout much of the northern U.S. over the last few days. Snow-covered roads in the Great Lakes region are also working to slow down delivery drivers.

The good news for those tired of the cold is that a thaw is on deck. However, the warmer temperatures will come with a higher chance of rain as a parade of storms originating in the Pacific Ocean make their way from the West Coast and across the country in the days ahead.

The southern U.S. will also not escape the disruptions at the hands of Mother Nature. A few storms are predicted to set up near the Gulf Coast, resulting in rain showers and the chance of severe thunderstorms. Cities that may see the impacts of the storms hitting the week before Christmas include New Orleans, Atlanta, and Charlotte.

The West Coast is in store for a soaker of a week ahead with several storms expected to roar through the region in the week before Christmas. As is typical for this time of the year, Southern California will be spared the worst impacts. The storms will primarily target Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.

This is good news for the Port of Los Angeles, the largest shipping port in the U.S. A high volume of holiday shipments are processed at this port, making ideal weather a necessity when shoppers are counting on their gifts to be delivered in time.

Days Leading Up to Christmas Could be Soggy and Potentially Snowy

The week of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa will likely see the arrival of colder air, putting widespread snow and ice back on the table. The wintry precipitation could spell trouble for shoppers and travelers.

The long-range forecast models are indicating that the biggest area of concern will be across the Midwest and the Northeast. Cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, New York City, and Washington, D.C. could all be dealing with winter weather in the days just before and after the holidays.

Like the week prior, the southern U.S. is likely to see frequent rounds of rain. While rain is not as disruptive as icy or snowy conditions, enough moisture can work to snarl travel both on the roads and in the air.

The latest models demonstrate that the best weather for shopping and travel over the next week or two will be centered on the zone from the Desert Southwest and up into the Plains. Southern California will remain mostly dry with moderate temperatures. While it will be chillier in the High Plains and Front Range region of Colorado, the region will see largely dry and calm conditions.

Heading to the north, the Pacific Northwest will continue to remain in the crosshairs of an active Pacific storm track. These storms are expected to frequently dip into Northern California.

The silver lining for the western U.S. is that they will see some of the nation's best skiing and snowboarding between Christmas and New Year's Day. The train of storms will continue to dump meaningful snowfall accumulation of the higher terrains of the Cascades, the northern Rockies, and the Sierra Nevada.

Stormy Pattern Comes on the Heels of a Active Weather Week

The upcoming storms are simply continuing the trend from this past week when major weather systems impacted both the West Coast and the East Coast. The western part of the U.S. saw the start of what is turning out to be a parade of storms coming in from the Pacific Ocean. These storms are forecast to hit every few days for the next week.

Meanwhile, a bomb cyclone was the story of the week for the Northeast. More than a dozen states were impacted by this monster storm that was responsible for over 100 wind damage reports in a zone from North Carolina and up into Maine.

The eastern part of Maine was hit the hardest by the storm with over 90,000 customers without power during the height of the activity. The tourist town of Bar Harbor recorded a top wind gust of 67 mph.

The bomb cyclone was accompanied by an atmospheric river, sending heavy rainfall across a swath of land from Louisiana to Maine. At least nine recording stations in the Northeast saw new daily rainfall records on Wednesday. For instance, Providence, Rhode Island recorded 4.6 inches of rain, smashing its past record of 2.4 inches for December 11.

Cold air coming in behind the storm favored the development of lake-effect snow across the Great Lakes. Located just south of Buffalo, Orchard Park, New York hit 30 inches of accumulation. This lake-effect snow is forecast to linger through Friday, amplifying the totals even further.

The frigid air will begin to dissipate as the weekend approaches, providing a bit of relief for residents and their heating systems. Temperatures approached the 0-degree mark early Thursday. The coldest spot in the nation belonged to International Falls, Minnesota, coming in at 24 degrees below zero. The chill dipped as far south as Florida early Friday, reaching the 30s in the southwestern part of the peninsula.

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