More than 120 million Americans heading home for the holidays face travel disruptions as stormy weather sweeps across the United States. Forecasters have warned of flooding, snow and record-breaking warmth, with conditions varying dramatically from coast to coast.
California is bracing for a second atmospheric river storm after the first caused deadly flash flooding in Redding, where one unidentified person died. Flood warnings remain in effect in Shasta County, and the National Weather Service cautioned that rivers and streams could flood. Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area are expected to receive two to four more inches of rain, with strong winds gusting up to 70 mph in northern California.
A clipper storm system is projected to bring snow and chilly temperatures from the Midwest to the Northeast from Monday to Tuesday, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty. Parts of the Upper Midwest and Northeast will be affected, while other regions experience dry but extremely warm weather.
Close to two dozen states, from the Rockies to the Appalachians and through the Plains, are forecast to see temperatures 15 to 30 degrees above the historical average by Christmas Day, said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny. The south-central states could see one of the warmest Christmases on record, with highs in Texas reaching the 70s and record temperatures possible in Dallas-Fort Worth, Waco, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico.
Further north, snow continues to accumulate in Portland and the Seattle area, with up to 12 inches possible above 4,000 feet by Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, critical fire weather conditions persist in Colorado, where above-normal temperatures are expected through Christmas. Along the Gulf Coast, Louisiana and Florida face warm temperatures, with dense fog in Louisiana and winds over 30 mph in Florida.
Travel is projected to be most disrupted in California and the West, with numerous flash flooding events possible. Forecasters urge holiday travelers to stay safe and monitor conditions as the storms develop.
