Christmas Travel Forecast: Potential Problem Areas | Weather.com

C​hristmas or Hanukkah travel is ahead for millions, and the weather will need to be factored into your plans this holiday season.

L​et’s take a look at where weather conditions will be on the naughty list this year:

L​ate Week: Snowy Upper Midwest To Northeast

• A quick-moving clipper system will sweep from the upper Midwest to the Great Lakes and Northeast through Friday night.
• The most significant snowfall totals will be from North Dakota into Minnesota and Wisconsin. If you can delay your plans until Friday or the weekend, the weather will be much more cooperative.
• S​now is likely to slow down parts of interstates 29, 39, 41, 43, 90, and 94 in these states.
• G​enerally lighter snow is expected from the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Appalachians to the Northeast on Friday. Rain is most likely along Interstate 95 to start, but flakes may mix in, especially on Friday night. Bursts of snow may snarl interstates elsewhere across the Northeast on Friday.
• Some gustier conditions are possible as this clipper system comes through.
• Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, M​inneapolis, New York and Pittsburgh could have weather-related delays through Friday night.
• C​onditions will be warm and pleasant across the rest of the country.

T​his Weekend Into Early Next Week: Mostly Dry, But Stubbornly Wet In Northwest

• T​he West Coast from Central California to Washington will remain wet as three Pacific storms affect the region this weekend into Monday night. Snow should remain locked in the Cascades at higher elevations. Gusty winds are also expected at times.
• Much of interstates 5, 82, 84 and 90 through the region may have delays. By the later half of Monday, delays in the Midwest may spike.
• S​eattle, Portland and San Francisco may also have airport delays. Add Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis by late Monday.
• Outside of a few quick flurries from clipper systems, almost everyone east of the Rockies will be dry until Monday when the Central US will begin to turn wetter.
• T​emperatures will be mild west of the Mississippi River, ranging from the 40s in the Rockies to the 60s and 70s from California to Texas. You might want to pack an extra jacket if you’re traveling into or through the Midwest or Northeast. Highs in the teens, 20s and 30s will be commonplace.

C​hristmas Eve And Christmas Day: New Trouble Spots

• Central, Eastern US: A new system will bring rain or snow showers. Most of the precipitation will fall as rain from the South into the Midwest, but light snow or a mix of rain and snow on the northern fringe of that system could affect the Great Lakes and interior Northeast.
• T​he new system could dampen plans along interstates 10, 20, 35, 44, 64, 70, 75 and 80 from Texas to the lower Great Lakes.
• West Coast, Rockies: A wet pattern will continue on the West Coast. A storm that entered the Northwest late Monday could bring snow to the Rockies by Tuesday night into Christmas Day. Right on its heels, another potentially strong storm could enter the Northwest on Christmas Day with heavy rain, mountain snow and strong winds, but it’s too early for details.
• Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, S​eattle and St. Louis are most likely to see delays close to the holiday.
• T​emperatures: Expect a warmup by Christmas Day. Some in the central U.S. may see highs some 20-plus degrees above average. This means highs in the 30s and 40s along the northern tier and 70s to near 80 in spots for the southern tier.
• C​hanges to these forecasts are expected, so come back frequently for the latest.

(​MORE: 2024 White Christmas Forecast)

Jonathan Belles has been a graphics meteorologist and writer for weather.com for 8 years and also assists in the production of videos for The Weather Channel en español. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but also enjoys covering high-impact weather and news stories and winter storms. He’s a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.