Millions of Americans are facing severe weather disruptions over the festive period, with a combination of deadly storms, flooding, and unseasonable warmth set to define the Christmas holiday. Forecasters warn that travel plans for more than 120 million people could be severely impacted.
West Coast Braces for Second Atmospheric River
The western United States, particularly California, is preparing for continued severe weather. The state has already endured nearly a foot of rain in some areas, leading to hazardous flooding. Tragically, this resulted in one fatality in the community of Redding.
Authorities have issued flood warnings for northern California's Shasta County, with the National Weather Service cautioning that rivers and streams could overflow. Redding's Mayor Mike Littau urged residents to stay safe and report emergencies.
A second, potent atmospheric river storm is expected to develop from Tuesday, lasting through Christmas Day. This system is predicted to bring central and southern California, including Los Angeles, several more inches of rain, with some communities potentially seeing up to 10 inches. The National Weather Service has warned of possible debris flows in recently burned areas.
Strong winds, with gusts potentially reaching 70 miles per hour, pose an additional threat. While the storms bring flooding risks, they may also deliver much-needed snow to the Lake Tahoe region after a slow start to the season.
Record Warmth and a 'Green' Christmas for Central and Southern States
In stark contrast, a vast 'bubble' of warm air is building over the central and southern United States. AccuWeather reports that this will lead to one of the warmest Christmases on record for the south-central states.
Close to two dozen states could see temperatures 15 to 30 degrees above the historical average on Christmas Day. The FOX Forecast Center indicated this warmth may challenge over 100 record high temperatures.
Areas from Texas to Indiana, Nebraska, and Arkansas are forecast to experience highs in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit. Meteorologists suggest record highs may be tied or broken in Dallas-Fort Worth and Waco. Similar record-challenging warmth is expected in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico.
Snow and Travel Disruption from the Great Lakes to the Northeast
For those hoping for a white Christmas, prospects are slim across most of the country. A fast-moving clipper system is bringing snow from the Great Lakes to New England early in the week, but it will be followed by warmer temperatures.
Detroit could see around half an inch of snow, while Boston may receive up to three inches along and west of the I-95 corridor. Light snow was expected in New York City on Monday night, likely changing to rain by Tuesday.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty noted, "There is a chance a storm on Christmas Day brings some mix of snow and ice to parts of the interior Northeast... any fresh snow would likely be limited to the northern part of New York and New England."
Flight tracking service FlightAware showed disruptions at major hubs including New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Chicago, and Atlanta. The combination of diverse and extreme weather patterns means this Christmas will be memorable for many Americans, though not for the traditional blanket of snow.
