Further delays to holiday travel are expected as severe thunderstorms intensify from Texas to Alabama

CNN
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Leisure travelers returning home this weekend could face more delays at airports as severe thunderstorms intensify in the south and a parade of atmospheric river-driven storms hits the west.

There could be more flight delays and cancellations this busy holiday weekend after more than 18,000 flights to, from or within the United States were delayed or canceled on Thursday and Friday, according to FlightAware.com. As of Saturday morning, more than 520 US flights to or from the USA had already been canceled.

After severe storms brought tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail across parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Thursday and Friday, the threat of severe weather is expected to increase again across the South from Texas to Alabama on Saturday.

“An outbreak of severe storms with tornadoes, wind damage and large hail is expected from portions of the Southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast states,” the National Weather Service said. “Several long-range tornadoes are expected.”

The strongest tornadoes could occur late Saturday afternoon into the evening hours, the weather service said. The Storm Prediction Center has increased the risk of tornadoes in parts of central Louisiana, Mississippi and western Alabama to a moderate level 4 out of 5 severe weather risk, affecting nearly 2 million people.

A Tornado Warning is in effect for portions of East Texas, Central Louisiana and West Mississippi until 3:00 PM CST. This watch includes Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, Louisiana as well as Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

“Although the greater threat of strong tornadoes may remain later this afternoon and evening, some of these are possible in this region in the meantime,” the center said.

The threat shifts Sunday to the Southeast and East Coast — where tornado-triggering storms are possible in Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. Rain from this storm could cause minor travel delays along the East Coast.

Meanwhile, in the West, a sustained series of atmospheric river-borne storms is bringing more rounds of dangerous waves, strong winds, heavy rains and dense mountain snowfalls to the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains this weekend. Another 4 to 6 inches or more of rain and 1 to 2 feet of mountain snow are likely.

The threat of a severe storm lasting several days is expected to continue to affect the south on Saturday Travel problems cause those trying to return home on the last weekend of the year.

“Large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes are likely, with the possibility of some strong (EF2+) tornadoes,” the Storm Prediction Center warns. “At least some damaging wind/tornado threat will likely continue into late Saturday evening/early Sunday, including portions of the Alabama/Florida Panhandle and possibly northward to near the Cumberland Plateau.”

Tornadoes occur significantly less often in the United States in December, with only about 40 on average – compared to the nearly 270 on average in May.

However, this year continued to be well above average. As of December 27, there were 1,783 tornado reports – significantly higher than the average of 1,347 reports.

From East Texas to West Georgia, isolated tornadoes as well as damaging wind gusts and large hail could occur in cities such as Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Birmingham.

A severe thunderstorm warning is already in effect for parts of East Texas, including Dallas, southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas. These supercells will be capable of producing golf ball-sized hail and damaging wind speeds of 60 miles per hour.

“The threat area will move eastward from portions of north and central Texas early, across east Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley today, then across the Tennessee Valley, portions of Georgia and the central Gulf Coast tonight,” the Storm Prediction Center says.

As heat and humidity trigger more storms during the day, these supercells could trigger multiple tornadoes, some of which could be strong and violent. Late in the evening and overnight, these storms will form into a series of severe storms that may result in widespread wind damage and embedded tornadoes.

The severe storm threat will weaken on Sunday as it spreads to the Southeast, East Coast and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. The area includes the cities of Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.

A reduced severe storm threat extends from the Florida Panhandle into southwestern Pennsylvania. Cities likely to experience damaging wind gusts and tornadoes include Atlanta, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Virginia Beach.

Travelers attempting to return home and those making a stopover in the Pacific Northwest may need to allow additional time for the trip and monitor later legs of their journey home during the final weekend of 2024, as atmospheric river-driven storms are expected to become more unsettled Worry about the weather.

“The revolving door of mid-latitude hurricanes moving through the Pacific Northwest will likely continue through the remainder of the weekend,” the National Weather Service said.

The storms are expected to hit the California coast with massive waves.

The latest storm in the series is expected to move inland on Saturday, bringing dangerously high waves and strong currents across the West Coast – creating dangerous conditions for swimmers.

The worst coastal conditions are expected along the Pacific Northwest coast and throughout the Bay Area, where waves of up to 30 feet are possible over the weekend. Waves up to 15 feet high were seen as far south as the coast of Malibu and in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

“Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions as well as local beach erosion are expected. Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people off rocks, jetties and beaches into the sea. Sudden immersion in cold water can result in cold water shock, even for experienced swimmers,” the weather service warns.

Strong winds are expected to continue blowing across portions of the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains, where high wind warnings are in effect. Wind gusts of over 120 km/h are possible, which could bring down trees and power lines.

“Large-scale power outages are to be expected,” warns the weather service. “Travel will be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles, including areas along Highway 395 and Highway 95 near Walker Lake.”

Winter weather advisories are in effect for portions of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains as waves of moisture continue to affect the West. Snowfall of 6 to 18 inches and gusts possibly exceeding 70 mph could reduce visibility and make travel nearly impossible.

Along with the snowfall, avalanche warnings were issued for the mountains of northern Utah, including the Wasatch Range and Bear River Range. “Very dangerous avalanche conditions are expected on many slopes,” warns the Utah Avalanche Center.

Heavy rainfall is expected along the coastal portions of the Pacific Northwest and in the lower elevations of the Cascades. An additional 10cm of rainfall is possible over the weekend, which could bring the storm total to almost 25cm.