Map shows snow will make Christmas travel difficult in 15 states

What’s New

Winter weather could impede Christmas travel this week in 15 states as snow falls in the Northeast, Great Lakes Region, parts of the Southwest and in Alaska.

Why It Matters

Millions of Americans will travel for the holidays this year. A report from the American Automobile Association (AAA) predicted that more than 119 million Americans have at least 50 miles to travel for year-end holidays. Nearly 8 million Americans are expected to travel by plane.

The biggest cause behind airline delays and cancellations is weather-related, according to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website. Nearly 63 percent of delays each year are caused by bad weather. Weather also can hinder roadway travel, and the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued numerous alerts warning of slick conditions as of Monday.

What To Know

Winter weather advisories have been issued in Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana, California, New York, Nevada, Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maine, Alaska and Wyoming.

Most of the alerts warned of minor travel disruptions, particularly during morning and evening commutes. However, weather is severe enough in at least two of the states to prompt NWS meteorologists to advise holiday travelers to exercise caution.

Weather alerts specifically mentioning difficult holiday travel have been issued for Alaska and Nevada. Most alerts don’t mention holiday travel, though roads could be slippery or covered in snow.

Many of the alerts mention snow, with some parts of the nation expecting several inches, with some of the highest snowfall amounts expected in high-elevation areas. Other alerts said strong winds could cause issues.

Most alerts are set to expire on Tuesday, meaning that travel on Monday or even early Tuesday morning would be most treacherous. However, the alerts in Alaska and Nevada are expected to last until Wednesday.

Dangerous travel conditions were mentioned for several highways, including in Alaska and Nevada.

What People Are Saying

NWS meteorologist Liz Jurkowski told Newsweek: The Buffalo, New York, region won’t see strong enough snowfall amounts to “really” impede travel. “Snow will start falling in western New York around 10 p.m. and going towards eastern New York about midnight-ish. It’ll peter off throughout the day Christmas Eve morning. It should remain cold enough to have a white Christmas.”

NWS office in Reno, Nevada, in a winter weather advisory: “Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact holiday travel as well as the Tuesday morning and evening commutes. Strong winds could cause damage to trees and power lines.”

NWS office in Fairbanks, Alaska, in a winter weather advisory: “Areas of blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. The cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.”

NWS office in Gray, Maine, in a winter weather advisory: “Even light snowfall amounts can accumulate on roads and cause dangerous driving conditions due to snow covered roads. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning commute.”

What Happens Next

Most alerts will expire on Tuesday, meaning some last-minute holiday travelers could have a clear path to their destination. Travelers are urged to keep up to date with weather alerts from their local NWS offices before setting out.