CNN
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Storms sweeping across the western and southern United States threaten to delay flights as millions of holiday travelers prepare to close out the year.
In what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, another round of severe thunderstorms is expected to hit the South on Saturday with strong tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail from Louisiana to Alabama, according to National Weather Service. Elsewhere in the country, a series of Pacific storm systems will continue to impact the west through the end of this week with periods of strong winds, low-elevation rain and heavy mountain snow, the weather service said.
After nearly 800 flights into, into or from the United States were canceled on Thursday, more than 50 flights have already been canceled for Friday, according to the flight tracking website. FlightAware.
Friday – one of the seasons The top three Busiest Travel Days – The Storm Prediction Center warns of some locally strong to severe thunderstorms for portions of the central Gulf Coast to central Mississippi and Alabama. Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and tornadoes are possible.
By Saturday, the severe weather threat level will increase from north-central Louisiana to west-central Alabama.
“We have increasing concern that there will be a lot of storms with a severe weather threat there on Saturday,” Weather Service meteorologist Evan Bentley said. He said. “With this being a very active time of year for holiday travel, we want to make sure anyone who is in this corridor or traveling through this corridor is aware of the weather threat.”
Thursday brought stormy weather to the South, with a tornado watch in western and central Louisiana and far southeast Texas until 3 a.m. ET. The watch includes Lake Charles, Alexandria, Louisiana and Port Arthur, Texas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the activation of the state’s emergency response resources on Thursday to prepare for severe weather conditions On X.
“As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin to travel after the Christmas holiday, it is important that everyone regularly monitors road conditions, develops an emergency plan, and listens to guidance from state and local officials,” Abbott said in a news release.
Travelers’ plans were also thwarted in New Jersey, where a gaping hole opened up along Interstate 80 in Wharton, prompting the state Department of Transportation to The eastbound highway is closed For emergency sewer repairs.
The United States is experiencing a wave of severe weather, with a record number of travelers expected to close their doors in 2024, according to a new report. AAA. The association expected 119.3 million people to travel 50 miles or more from their homes from December 21 to January 1. This means an increase of 3 million passengers over the same period last year.
The Transportation Security Administration says it expects to screen nearly 40 million people from December 19 to January 2 — an increase of 6% from last year. Among the busiest travel days will be Friday and Monday, TSA He said.
While most of the U.S. flights canceled Thursday were to or from Dallas-Fort Worth, the series of storms could impact the East Coast by Sunday and possibly lead to additional delays in other parts of the country for those traveling home after the holidays.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, an active weather pattern is bringing rounds of coastal rain, gusty winds, mountain snowfall and dangerous surf across the region as vacation travelers head home this weekend.
the Wharton County Sheriff’s Office The state of Texas said three tornadoes appeared to have touched down in the county, with damage to several buildings reported near the city of El Campo on Thursday.
One possible tornado touched down near Interstate 59 and damaged some barns, the Wharton County Office of Emergency Management reported. He said On Facebook.
Red Strandal, who helps run the farm that has been in his family for 80 years, He said CNN’s KHOU tornado blew down one of the family’s barns and sent pieces of sheet metal and wood flying hundreds of feet away.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Sternadel said. “I’ve never seen a tornado before… and tornadoes are all we get here.”
The storm also tore down the wall of one of their barns and lifted the roof of another, moving the boat that Strendel had been storing inside, he told KHOU.
But Stradnel said “it could have been worse” because his family and livestock were not harmed by the tornado.
Elsewhere in Texas, a home in Harris County was damaged and a US Postal Service truck toppled during the storm on Thursday. I mentioned. In Liberty County, a large tree fell and It crashed To the home of an elderly couple.
Wet travel conditions will continue on Friday, and rain is expected to extend from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast on Friday. Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above normal in the Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes.
After a marginal risk of severe storms across the South Friday, the threat is expected to intensify again on Saturday. The National Weather Service said damaging winds, hail and tornadoes were likely across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama through Saturday.
A Level 3 of 5 severe thunderstorm threat was issued Saturday from north-central Louisiana through most of central Mississippi into far west-central Alabama, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
“It appears that all types and risks of severe weather could occur, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, with storms developing steadily eastward and northeastward Saturday afternoon and Saturday night,” the center warned.
Cities with the greatest threats include Shreveport and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as Jackson, Mississippi. Cities including Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham and Montgomery all have a lower chance of storms on Saturday.
As for Sunday, at least some risk of severe weather is expected across the Southeast, although risks are expected to decrease by early next week, according to the weather service.
Rain and snow continue to fall on the West Coast
The stormy pattern continues to impact the western United States through the weekend. Mountain snow, coastal and low-elevation rain and breezy conditions will affect the northwest in the northern Rockies on Friday and this weekend.
High wind advisories are in effect across the lower elevations of Northwest and Northern California, where winds of 40 to 60 mph and isolated gusts over 65 mph are expected.
“Devastating winds will knock down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles,” the National Weather Service warned.
Winds are fanning high waves across much of the West Coast, where a series of high surf and coastal flood warnings have been issued.
Winter weather alerts have been issued across parts of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies, as rounds of moisture continue to impact the West. Snowfall of 6 to 18+ inches and winds that could exceed 70 mph could reduce visibility, make travel nearly impossible, and cause damage to trees and power lines.
The next in a series of river-fed weather storms is expected to bring another round of coastal and valley rain, mountain snowfall, gusty winds and high surf to the west on Friday with other storms likely to impact the area on Saturday and Sunday.
By the end of the weekend, rainfall totals are likely to range from 3 to 5 inches across Washington Cascades, Oregon and the coastal mountains of northwest California into the northern Sierra, while snowfall totals are likely to range from 1 to 3 feet at the highest elevations in the Northwest . . The Met Office said wet weather across the northwest could also lead to river flooding and mudslides. to caution.
