Millions face holiday travel woes as storms batter the Pacific Northwest and South

Scattered storms and thunderstorms will impact the south-central U.S. Thursday, with all hazards possible for cities including Houston, Waco, Lufkin, in Texas and Shreveport and Alexandria in Louisiana.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe storms for portions of the Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas region Thursday, warning heavy rainfall could fall with a slight risk of flash flooding. Heavy rain is likely to continue in the Mid-South going into Friday as the system slowly moves eastward, the NWS said. 

More strong storms will be possible Friday across Louisiana and Mississippi, but more organized severe storms will be possible on Saturday.

Come Saturday, 5 million people are already under risk for storms capable of hail, high winds and isolated tornadoes which could impact Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles in Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi.

The severe threat may persist on Sunday for northern Florida into southern/eastern Georgia and parts of the Carolinas.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest, a series of atmospheric river events is unfolding, bringing “moderate to heavy rainfall” and a few thunderstorms Thursday morning, the National Weather Service said in its morning advisory. 

The system is forecast to drop 1 to 3 inch rainfall totals, with risks of flooding. The system will move inland and have a break Thursday afternoon, with another round of rain arriving by evening and an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain by Friday morning, according to the weather service.

Up to 3 feet of snow will be possible in the Cascades and snow will overspread the northern Rockies through the weekend.

Also today, 10 million people are under wind alerts from California up into Oregon and Washington and east into Idaho.

Winter storm warnings and high surf are in place in Washington, Oregon and northern California.

High surf and major storm swells led to the collapse of the Santa Cruz Wharf on Monday, sending three people plunging into the ocean. Two were rescued from the water and a third. Made it out of the ocean on their own. All were hospitalized with minor injuries.

Elsewhere, dry conditions are forecast for the desert southwest, northern plains and northeast U.S. to close out the week.  

The weather comes as millions are expected to make holiday journeys or return home from their trips. AAA projected 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 with 107 million traveling by car.

East coasters rushing to get back home will have clear weather conditions Thursday.

However, road travel will be difficult in the Northwest mountain passes, and Dallas and Houston could face delays at airports and road slow downs due to the storms.