Christmas Storm Threatens Travel With Snow Ice And Flooding

Christmas may not be merry for millions of Americans hitting the road or skies this holiday, as powerful winter storms sweep across the country, bringing snow, ice, flooding, and high winds from coast to coast. From California’s mudslide-prone hills to snow-blanketed New York, travel could turn treacherous just as families gather to celebrate.

The Midwest and Northeast are bracing for major travel disruptions starting late Christmas Day and continuing into the weekend. According to AccuWeather, parts of New York, New England, and northern Pennsylvania could see between 1 and 12 inches of snow Thursday night through Friday. Southeastern New York and northeastern Pennsylvania are expected to be hit hardest, with up to a foot of snow possible.

“This fast-moving storm will pack a punch in the Northeast right after Christmas,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. “Holiday travelers should prepare for major slowdowns on roads and at airports.”

Key impact zones include:

• New York City the storm could bring the biggest snowfall of the season so far between 3 to 6 inches triggering delays on I-80, I-70, I-90, and I-95.

• Northeast corridor cities Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore may see a snow-rain mix, adding slush to already congested highways.

• Midwest states ice storms and mixed precipitation will sweep across Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas, with eastern and mid-Michigan facing a particularly dangerous ice storm Friday.

• Ohio Valley and Appalachia rain and thunderstorms will affect most of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Meanwhile, Southern California is dealing with a very different kind of Christmas storm one soaked in rain, lightning, and flood risks.

Heavy downpours slammed Los Angeles on Wednesday, knocking out power to thousands and triggering flood warnings, tornado alerts, and mudslide concerns. The weather system is expected to linger through Friday, putting more holiday travelers at risk.

“If you’re planning to be on the roads for the Christmas holidays, please reconsider your plans,” warned Ariel Cohen of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.

And here’s the bigger issue this is yet another reminder of how poor infrastructure planning and lack of preparedness are making U.S. cities increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Biden’s so-called “infrastructure” bill hasn’t improved much for critical roads, airports, or emergency response systems and storms like these expose those failures in real time.

While the White House plays politics, real Americans are left stranded, sitting in hours-long airport lines or sliding off unplowed highways. The holiday season is hard enough with record-high inflation, skyrocketing gas prices, and airline chaos now Mother Nature is adding insult to injury.

If you’re planning to travel, be smart:

• Check weather forecasts frequently and adjust plans accordingly.

• Expect delays at major airports in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

• Avoid travel at night in affected snow or flood zones.

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace not panic. But thanks to failing leadership and a stretched-thin infrastructure system, millions of Americans are once again left to fend for themselves when crisis strikes.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates with anyone planning to travel this week and stay safe out there.