Holidaymakers face flight cancellations as violent storms roll into the south

CNN
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Vacationers heading out for what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year are already facing delays as a serious round of storms rolls into the southern United States.

The violent storms in the area prompted the National Weather Service to issue multiple tornado watches across two states Thursday night. Earlier Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered ground stops at two Texas airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested an emergency as weather conditions worsened.

More than 700 flights within, into or out of the United States have been canceled Thursday, including hundreds of flights heading into or out of Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the flight tracking website Flight conscious.

In New Jersey, a gaping sinkhole opened along Interstate 80 in Wharton in the eastern part of the state, prompting the state Department of Transportation to close the interstate eastbound for emergency sinkhole repairs.

In the South, more than 1 million people in parts of Louisiana and southeastern Texas were under tornado watches Thursday night, according to the NWS.

A tornado watch was issued for west and central Louisiana and southeast Texas until 6 p.m. 2 a.m. Central Time, according to the Storm Prediction Center. This watch includes Lake Charles and Alexandria, Louisiana and Port Arthur, Texas.

Severe thunderstorms will move from Texas to Louisiana Thursday night, bringing a continued threat of tornadoes and strong winds.

“Thunderstorms will continue to pose a threat for a few tornadoes tonight and into the early hours of the night as they spread east-northeast into parts of west and central Louisiana,” the Storm Prediction Center said. “Damaging winds up to 60-65 mph and isolated hail may also occur,” it added.

More than 4 million people were under a Level 3 of 5 severe storm threat Thursday afternoon in southeast Texas, including Houston, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The center is warning of several tornadoes, including a strong tornado or two, and large hail from eastern Texas this afternoon and into Louisiana, southern Arkansas and far west-central Mississippi overnight.

Governor Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management on Thursday to activate the state’s emergency response resources ahead of the severe weather threat in the eastern part of the state, he announced. on X.

“As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin to travel after the Christmas holidays, it is critical that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, create an emergency plan and follow the guidance of state and local officials,” Abbott said in a news release.

The severe storm threat is expected to increase over the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley Thursday afternoon and is expected to last through the evening as a region-wide low pressure system strengthens.

Storms could potentially bring strong winds, damaging hail and a few tornadoes to cities including Houston and Austin.

An isolated severe storm threat is spreading across central Texas to central Arkansas, western Mississippi and southern Louisiana, including cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock and Baton Rouge. The total population under some kind of severe storm threat on Thursday exceeds 20 million people.

The severe storm threat is expected to ease across the South on Friday, but increase again on Saturday.

“It appears that all weather conditions and hazards may occur, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, as storms steadily develop east-northeast Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening,” the Storm Prediction Center warns.

Cities like Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham and Montgomery could all see a lower chance of storms Saturday.

This series of storms could impact the East Coast on Sunday and potentially lead to further delays for those traveling home from the holidays.

A record number of travelers is expected to close out in 2024, according to AAA. The association expected 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. That is 3 million more travelers than in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, a very active weather pattern is bringing rounds of coastal rain, gusty winds, mountain snowfall and dangerous waves across the region as travelers head home for the holidays.

High wind warnings are in effect for the lower elevations of northwestern and northern California, where winds of 40 to 60 mph and isolated gusts of more than 65 mph are expected.

“Destructive winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles,” the National Weather Service warned.

The winds are amplifying high waves over most of the west coast, where a number of warnings for high surf and coastal flooding are in place.

Winter weather alerts are in place for parts of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies as rounds of moisture continue to affect the West. Snowfall of 6 to 18+ inches and wind gusts potentially over 70 mph could reduce visibility, make travel nearly impossible and cause damage to trees and power lines.

The next in the line of atmospheric river-driven storms is expected to bring another round of coastal and valley rain, mountain snowfall, gusty winds and high surf to the west Friday with other storms potentially affecting the region on Saturday and Sunday.