Storms threaten Christmas travel plans across the United States, What new rain and snow forecasts you need to know?

Millions of Americans are facing potential disruptions to their early Christmas travel plans as storms sweep across the United States, bringing rain and snow to large parts of the country.

With nearly 120 million travelers expected to journey during the year-end holidays, according to AAA, the adverse weather poses a significant challenge to holiday travel logistics.

AAA reports that approximately 90% of travelers will take to the roads, while a record number of air travelers are anticipated to fly this year, narrowly surpassing pre-pandemic travel levels from 2019.

However, travelers aiming to get ahead of the rush this week are likely to encounter delays due to widespread storm systems affecting various regions of the country.

Severe Weather Across Regions

Moderate rainfall is drenching parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with showers and thunderstorms developing in the Ohio Valley, Southern Plains, and Lower Mississippi Valley.

Forecasters warn of localized heavy rainfall in the Ohio Valley and additional rain moving into the Mid-Atlantic and New England by Tuesday morning. Some areas are also expecting a wintry mix, further complicating travel.

In the West, an atmospheric river is set to deliver heavy rain, snow, and wintry conditions to northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rockies.

Washington state could see significant rainfall on Tuesday, with the northern Cascades forecasted to receive four to eight inches of snow, and even higher totals at the peaks.

Meanwhile, the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains are bracing for snow and strong winds, with lake-effect snow showers impacting regions near Lakes Erie and Ontario.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently declared a state of emergency following severe snow and wind conditions that stranded vehicles and disrupted travel.

Storms and Unusual Weather Patterns

The current weather patterns follow a series of severe atmospheric events, including flood warnings in California and a rare EF-1 tornado that touched down in Central California over the weekend. The City of San Francisco even recorded its first tornado warning in history.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported a record-breaking 3.09 million travellers screened at U.S. airports on Sunday, highlighting the scale of holiday travel.

However, with storms predicted to intensify across the United States, travellers are urged to prepare for delays and disruptions as they navigate one of the busiest travel periods of the year.