Across the northern United States and parts of Canada, wintry weather poses a threat to the plans of many holiday travelers. With forecasts for these regions calling for significant mixes of snow, rain, and wind between December 21st and the 25th, nearly 120 million people could be affected. These conditions are expected to contribute to significant delays in one of the busiest holiday travel seasons on record.
A storm that has already affected the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest earlier this week is en route to the Northeast Friday, bringing the possibility of a few inches of snow for interior portions of the Northeast and a chance of rain and light snow across the region. While major cities are not expected to see more than an inch of snowfall through Saturday, parts of the Appalachians could see up to 6 inches.
The expected precipitation, however, is anticipated to be only a prelude to the coldest temperatures of the season, following closely on the heels of the storm. Affected areas could see temperature drops as significant as 30 degrees in some areas, even in southern cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Little Rock, and Memphis. Ground stops have already affected flights in certain airports and more are anticipated as weather conditions continue to evolve, with the strongest atmospheric river of the holiday season expected to arrive on Christmas Eve.