More holiday travel delays are expected as severe thunderstorms intensify from Texas to Alabama

CNN
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Vacationers returning home this weekend may struggle with more airport delays as severe thunderstorms intensify in the South and a parade of atmospheric river-driven storms pound the West.

More flight delays and cancellations could be on the horizon after this busy holiday weekend ends 18,000 flights into, out of or within the United States were delayed or canceled Thursday and Friday, according to FlightAware.com. Another 570 US flights have already been delayed Saturday morning.

After severe storms brought tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail to parts of Texas and Louisiana on Thursday and Friday, the threat of severe weather is expected to increase again across the south Saturday from Texas to Alabama.

“An outbreak of severe storms with tornadoes, wind damage and large hail is expected from parts of the Southern Plains, into the Lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast states,” the National Weather Service said. “More long-track tornadoes are expected.”

The strongest tornadoes could come late Saturday afternoon into the evening, the weather service said.

The threat shifts Sunday to the Southeast and East Coast — where tornado-spawning storms are expected in Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. Rain from this storm may lead to some minor travel delays on the East Coast.

Meanwhile in the West, a continuing series of atmospheric river-driven storms is delivering several rounds of dangerous waves, strong winds, heavy precipitation and heavy snowfall in the mountains across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies this weekend. Another 4 to 6 inches or more of rain and 1 to 2 feet of mountain snow are likely.

A threat of several days of severe storms will likely continue to affect the south Saturday brings travel headaches to those trying to return home for the last weekend of the year.

“Large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are likely, potentially including a few strong (EF2+) tornadoes,” the Storm Prediction Center warns. “At least some damaging wind/tornado threat is likely to continue through late Saturday night/early Sunday, including parts of the Alabama/Florida Panhandle and potentially north into the Cumberland Plateau.”

Tornadoes are much less common in the United States during the month of December, averaging only about 40 – compared to the nearly 270 seen on average in May.

However, this year remains well above average. As of December 26, there have been 1,777 tornado reports – well above the average of 1,347 reports.

From eastern Texas to western Georgia, cities such as Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Birmingham could see an isolated chance of tornadoes as well as damaging wind gusts and large hail.

On Sunday, the severe storm threat weakens as it spreads to the southeast, east coast and parts of the mid-Atlantic. The area includes the cities of Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.

A lower severe storm threat spreads from the Florida Panhandle to southwestern Pennsylvania. Cities that could see some damaging wind gusts and a chance for tornadoes include Atlanta, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach.

Travelers attempting to return home and those with stopovers in the Pacific Northwest may need to allow extra time to travel and monitor later legs of their journey home during the last weekend of 2024 as atmospheric storms driven by the river brings more unstable weather.

“The revolving door of midlatitude cyclones propagating through the Pacific Northwest is likely to continue through the rest of the weekend,” the National Weather Service said.

The storms are expected to lash the California coast with massive waves.

The latest storm in the series is expected to move ashore on Saturday, bringing dangerously high waves and powerful rip currents across the West Coast – creating dangerous conditions for swimmers.

The worst coastal conditions are expected across the Pacific Northwest Coastlines and across the Bay Area, where waves up to 30 feet are possible through the weekend. High waves of up to 15 feet could be seen as far south as the Malibu coast and across Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

“Hazardous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion can be expected. Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from cliffs, piers and beaches. Sudden immersion in cold water can result in cold water shock even for the most experienced swimmers, ” warns the weather service.

High winds are expected to continue to blow over parts of the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, where high wind warnings are in place. Wind gusts in excess of 75 mph are possible, which could bring down trees and power lines.

“Widespread power outages are expected,” the weather service warns. “Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles, including areas along Highway 395 and Highway 95 near Walker Lake.”

Winter weather warnings are in place for parts of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies, while rounds of moisture continue to affect the West. Snowfall of 6 to 18 inches and wind gusts potentially over 70 mph could reduce visibility and make travel nearly impossible.

Along with the snowfall, avalanche warnings have been issued for the mountains of northern Utah, including the Wasatch Range and Bear River Range. “Very hazardous avalanche conditions are expected to develop on many slopes,” the Utah Avalanche Center warns.

Heavy rainfall is expected along the coastal portions of the Pacific Northwest and across the lower elevations of the Cascades. Another 4 inches of precipitation is possible through the weekend, which could bring the storm to nearly 10 inches.