What Travelers Need to Know About the Holiday Week Forecast

Your holiday travel forecast is here and it is not looking promising for the millions of Americans expected to take to the roads or the skies in the week ahead. Here is what you need to look out for if your C​hristmas or Hanukkah plans call for travel.

Late Week Forecast

Travelers hoping to get a jump start on their plans will encounter a variety of weather makers in the coming days. An Alberta clipper is making its way through the Upper Midwest and into the Great Lakes at the end of this work week. The most meaningful snowfall accumulation will impact a zone from North Dakota and into Minnesota and Wisconsin through late Friday.

Motorists needing to drive through this area would be wise to consider delaying their travel until Saturday. This will give the clipper storm a chance to clear out and crews to treat the slippery roads.

Significant snow is most likely for the parts of interstates 29, 39, 41, 43, 90, and 94 in this zone. Lighter snow is in the forecast for portions of the Great Lakes, the Ohio Valley, the Appalachians, and the Northeast as a result of this clipper. These regions are expecting the snow to hit later on Friday. While rain will be the first effect of the clipper for the busy Interstate 95 corridor in the Northeast, other parts of the region may see the flakes fly by the end of the day.

The arrival of the clipper will also whip up the winds. The high winds will be the most noticeable impact of the storm for the Northeast.

Friday could be a dicey day for air travel across a number of major hubs in the northern part of the country. This includes hubs in Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Boston. Be sure to check your flight status before heading to the airport.

The rain will also return to parts of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California at times on Friday. The rest of the U.S. will enjoy mostly dry and pleasant conditions.

The Weekend and Early Next Week

The biggest trouble spot for travelers this weekend and into early next week will be across the Pacific Northwest and down into Central California. Three separate storms originating in the Pacific Ocean will pummel the region through late Monday. Warmer temperatures at the lower elevations will keep the snow confined to the mountainous areas.

Gusty winds will also be an issue at times over the next few days. Motorists using parts of interstates 5, 82, 84, and 90 may experience delays, especially in the higher terrains where snow is expected. Airports in San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle may also be at the mercy of Mother Nature.

The bulk of the country east of the Rocky Mountains will enjoy dry conditions for the weekend. The exception will be a few leftover snow flurries as a result of the clipper.

The mercury will hover in the 40s in the Rockies with readings in the 60s and 70s in the area from California and Texas. Significantly colder temperatures are on tap for the Midwest and the Northeast. While the blast of Arctic air will not come along with wintry precipitation, residents in this area should prepare for widespread highs in the teens, 20s, and 30s.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Forecast

After a cold but calm stretch of days for the central and eastern parts of the U.S., a new weather maker will usher in the threat of rain and snow showers just in time for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The bulk of the Midwest and down into the southern U.S. will see temperatures warm enough to keep the moisture falling as rain.

It may be a different situation in the Great Lakes and the interior portions of the Northeast where snow flurries or a mix of rain and snow located on the northern flank of the system may impact travel. Motorists heading out on parts of interstates 10, 20, 35, 44, 64, and 70 from Texas and to north into the lower Great Lakes will be most likely to be dealing with red or slippery roadways.

The active weather pattern will continue for the West Coast. A storm system is forecast to push into the Pacific Northwest late Monday, delivering more soggy weather. This system will eventually track into the Rockies, resulting in the chance of snow heading into Christmas Day. The lower terrains will likely see heavy rain from this event. High winds could also present concerns.

Air travelers will want to keep an eye out on conditions in a number of airports in the days surrounding Christmas. The most likely hubs to experience delays include San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Dallas, New Orleans, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Atlanta.

The Arctic air in place over the eastern U.S. will exit the region by Christmas. It is forecast to be unseasonably warm for the central parts of the country with highs soaring to about 20 degrees above the norm for this time of the year. This will translate to highs in the 30s and 40s in the northern tier of the country and readings that hover in the 70s and 80s in the southern edge.

As always, this forecast will have some minor changes as the holidays approach. Check back later for a more updated and precise forecast.

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