Title
Following Christmas Weather: Southern Storms and Dense Fog Impacting Holiday Journeys
Certain parts of the USA are encountering tempests and dense fog this Friday and Saturday, potentially impacting post-Christmas voyages, predominantly in the Northwest, South, and Midwest, as millions of Americans embark on their holidays.
Key Points
Southern Turmoils: Southern regions such as Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana witnessed intense weather and tornadoes early Thursday, disrupting flights. Despite the National Weather Service forecasting these storms to subside on Friday, another round of severe weather, including thunderstorms and precipitation, is predicted for Saturday.
The National Weather Service's offices in places like New Orleans, Lake Charles, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas, and Fort Worth, Texas, have cautioned of potential storms returning on Saturday, with isolated turbulences also possible on Friday, particularly along the Mississippi coast.
Fog Alerts: Dense fog admonishments are currently in effect across the USA on Friday morning, possibly decreasing drivers' visibility in areas like Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Florida, and Minnesota.
Northwestern Tempests: The National Weather Service expects storms to traverse through the northwestern USA and northern Rocky Mountains from Friday until the weekend, with Washington, Oregon, and northern California projected to receive between 3 to 5 inches of rain by the weekend's end.
Warmer Climates: Most of the USA is expected to experience above-average temperatures this weekend, as per the National Weather Service, with potential record-breaking morning temperatures in the central Plains, Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes, and mid-Atlantic regions at various points until Sunday.
How is the Weather Affecting Travel?
Violent weather and dense fog led to widespread delays on Thursday, with Dallas-area airports enforcing stoppages on the runway and FlightAware reporting over 8,000 flights being delayed. However, it appears that these weather issues are subsiding on Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration reported minimal major airports facing intense, widespread delays as of 10 a.m. EST, despite San Francisco International Airport experiencing approximately 40-minute delays due to weather. Travelers may face additional, more localized delays; major airports have reported multiple-hour delays for flights into Aspen, Colorado, for instance, and Palm Beach International Airport experiences over an hour's delay due to volume. A total of 2,300 flights within, to, or departing from the USA have been delayed as of 10 a.m. EST on Friday, according to FlightAware, with 80 flights canceled.
Large Figure
15.2 million: The number of travelers who have already left through security checkpoints at US airports during this holiday season between Dec. 21 and Dec. 26, as per the Transportation Security Administration. AAA projected record holiday travel numbers for this year, with an estimated 119 million people traveling more than 50 miles between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1—primarily by car.
Further Reading
DFW and DAL airports impose stoppages on the runway due to severe weather (CBS News)
Powerful thunderstorms pose a threat to Texas and Louisiana, disrupting holiday travel (Associated Press)
- The severe weather and tornadoes in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana on Thursday disrupted numerous flights, potentially affecting holiday travelers.
- Flight delays due to weather conditions were prevalent on Thursday, with Dallas-area airports enforcing stoppages on the runway and over 8,000 flights being delayed.
- Post-Christmas travels could face challenges in the Southern states as another round of severe weather is predicted for Saturday, including thunderstorms and precipitation.
- Dense fog advisories are currently in effect across the USA, reducing visibility at airports in Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Florida, and Minnesota.
- Holiday travelers may encounter flight cancellations and delays in the following days, especially in the Midwest and Southwest, as extreme weather conditions continue to impact airports.
