Storms are expected to hit a wide swath of the U.S. on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
A stormy weather pattern will continue over the next few days across the northwestern U.S., with “heavy” rain expected in Northern California and in the Pacific Northwest, reaching inland into the Northern Rockies on Friday.
“By the end of the weekend, rainfall totals of 3-5″+ likely through the Washington and Oregon Cascades, northwest California coastal mountains into the northern Sierra, while snowfall totals of 1 to 3 feet are likely in the highest elevations of the Northwest,” the NWS said on Friday.
In the South, thunderstorms are expected in parts of Louisiana to Alabama, with hail and damaging winds incoming, “however severe storms are not expected,” according to the latest update from the weather service’s office in Lake Charles, La. The office noted that tornado watches have expired.
Sixty flights have been already canceled on Friday, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.com. On Thursday, almost 800 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were canceled, the website showed.
Ahead of the severe storm threat on Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) activated state emergency response resources.
“As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin traveling after the Christmas holiday, it’s crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials,” he said in the Thursday press release.
More than 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from their homes between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1, according to AAA, surpassing the previous record set in 2019.
“This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we’re anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday,” said Stacey Barber, the vice president of AAA Travel.
