Christmas Travel Weather Could Have Its Headaches In Parts Of The US, Especially In the East And West
- - Christmas Travel Weather Could Have Its Headaches In Parts Of The US, Especially In the East And West
Jennifer Gray December 19, 2025 at 3:35 AM
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Christmas holiday travel has kicked off, and the weather could lead to significant headaches both on the roads and in the air.
Friday
Friday will bring storm systems on both coasts, with windy weather in between.
East: A powerful cold front will produce strong winds over much of the East and Great Lakes, particularly the Northeast. These wind gusts may be capable of tree damage, power outages and significant flight delays in the Northeast. Bands of heavy rain are expected Friday ahead of the front, with wind-driven lake-effect snow possible in the eastern Great Lakes snowbelts.
Central: It will be windy again in the Plains from Texas to Minnesota and the Dakotas. You'll have to keep a tight grip on the steering wheel, particularly on east-west roads.
West: The heaviest rain will fall in parts of Northern California, with some rain also expected as far south as the Bay Area-Sacramento Interstate 80 corridor. Watch for local flash flooding, especially near areas recently burned by wildfires. Light showers will continue in the Pacific Northwest and snow could make travel slippery in the Cascades and northern Rockies.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Denver (wind), San Francisco
The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow.Saturday
Saturday travel should be mostly trouble-free, as far as weather is concerned, with just a few minor concerns.
West: Mainly light rain and mountain snow are expected in the Pacific Northwest from Washington and northwest Oregon to northern Idaho and far northwest Montana. This could lead to slippery travel in the high country. Otherwise, any more significant Northern California rain should hold off until late Saturday night.
Great Lakes: A cold front could produce a band of rain or snow through parts of the western Great Lakes. Otherwise, strong northwest winds behind the front will whistle through the upper Midwest, and some lake-effect snow could develop in the snowbelts of northern Michigan later.
Potential weather-related flight delays: San Francisco
The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow.Sunday
West: Heavier rain will soak Northern California, including at least parts of the Bay Area, Sacramento and the Sierra foothills that could lead to local flash flooding, especially near recently-burned areas. Otherwise, rain and Cascades snow are expected in both Oregon and Washington, and northern Rockies snow will pick up, as well.
Central, East: Winds will be the main concern in two areas. Strong northwest winds are expected in the Northeast, particularly near and over higher elevations from the Appalachians to New England. A few snow showers and snow squalls are likely in parts of upstate New York and northern New England. Southerly winds will increase in parts of the Plains from Oklahoma to Nebraska.
Potential weather-related flight delays: San Francisco, Houston (low clouds/fog?), Newark (wind?)
The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow.Monday
Overall, Monday looks like a fairly decent day to travel, weather-wise, across most of the country.
West: Bands of locally heavy rain could linger in Northern California, including the Bay Area, that could lead to flash flooding and landslides. Rain and Cascades snow should continue in Washington state and western Oregon. Valley rain and mountain snow is expected in the northern Rockies.
South: Just a few showers are possible in parts of coastal Texas, Louisiana and the lower Mississippi Valley. They should just be a nuisance and shouldn't lead to major travel delays, except where low clouds could blanket some airports.
Midwest: Some light snow, possibly mixed with sleet or freezing rain, could break out in the Great Lakes, spreading east in the evening. This could lead to some slippery travel.
Potential weather-related flight delays: San Francisco, Houston
The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow.Tuesday
This key travel day before Christmas Eve could have more weather headaches, both in the East and West.
East: There may be some light snow, sleet or freezing rain in parts of the Northeast. The best chance of this, for now, is in New England and the interior Northeast from parts of northern Pennsylvania to central and upstate New York. However, some light snow or wintry mix could make it as far south as the New York City Tri-State area, especially early in the day. Otherwise, rain showers and some gusty winds are possible in the mid-Atlantic and Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.
West: A stronger storm could move into California with heavy rain and strong winds, first in Northern California, then spreading to Southern California Tuesday night. Some rain and mountain snow from this system could also stream into parts of Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho and far northwest Montana.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles (late)
The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow.Christmas Eve
West: Areas of heavy rain may continue in California, including the L.A. Basin and San Diego, and that rain could also extend into parts of the Desert Southwest, including the Las Vegas Valley, possibly as far east as Phoenix. Local flash flooding is possible, particularly near recently wildfire-burned areas. Otherwise, rain and mountain snow is possible in parts of the Northwest and northern Rockies, again.
Central/East: The only thing that might be a travel weather headache is the potential for areas of low clouds, fog and light showers in parts of the Midwest as warmer, more humid air tries to move northward. This could lead to some flight delays at major hubs, especially in the morning.
Potential weather-related flight delays: L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago, Kansas City, Cincinnati
The green shadings depict where rain is expected. Areas that are shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple-shaded locations may see either rain or snow.
Make sure you check back often since the forecast will likely change. We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season.
Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
