10
Loading video...
By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center is warning that severe weather could trigger "major holiday travel" disruptions in Western U.S. states in the days leading up to Christmas.
The ominous forecast arrives as AAA projects that 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period, which typically runs from December 20 to January 1. This is over 2 percent more than last year’s record. About 89 percent of those travelers will journey by car. Air travel is also expected to set a record, with nearly 8.03 million passengers anticipated, while another 4.9 million will travel by bus, train or cruise—a 9 percent jump from last year.
On Monday, the Climate Prediction Center warned of incoming atmospheric rivers that would unleash more impacts across the West, including heavy precipitation, heavy snow and strong winds, with all three potentially snarling flight schedules and travel conditions for motorists.
Read More on U.S.
...
"Atmospheric rivers are expected to bring major holiday travel hazards to parts of the West," the NWS Climate Prediction Center said in a post to X.
Atmospheric rivers are a "long, narrow region in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky—that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
California will likely be struck hardest by the change in weather.
"A stronger, more potent storm system will come in on the 22nd and 23rd, so that's going to be leading right into the Christmas holiday," NWS lead meteorologist Matt Mehle told Newsweek. "It could impact travel."
"Possible impacts during the busy holiday travel period include flooding, landslides, and challenging travel conditions across mountain passes," the forecast said. "Recently burned areas may face an elevated risk of flash flooding and debris flows. Power outages are possible in some areas due to high winds and heavy precipitation."
A map included with the post showed that nearly the entire coast of California faced a high risk of heavy precipitation from December 23 to December 25, with more inland areas facing a high risk of heavy snow. A moderate risk of strong winds is expected across the West, including Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.
Many NWS weather alerts remain in place across the Pacific Northwest from an atmospheric river that struck last week, with the incoming storm systems expected to worsen conditions across the region.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines