Powerful Storm System Threatens to Disrupt Christmas Travel Across the U.S.-What to Know

"Travelers may need a bit of festive magic to make it home for the holidays with a trifecta of weather patterns sweeping across the United States. Several different storm systems could impact millions of travelers hitting the roads and taking to the skies ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year's travel season, according to forecasters from AccuWeather. These storms are expected to affect everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest, and the East Coast."

""Flooding in the higher elevations can occur in a matter of a few hours. However, where these rivers reach lower, flatter terrain just above sea level, moderate to major flooding can be delayed and longer-lasting and perhaps up to a few days," AccuWeather's Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure."

""As the main focus of the atmospheric rivers shifts southward later this week, the potential for small stream and river flooding will increase substantially farther south in western Oregon, perhaps in the same manner as that of the Washington Cascades last week and again early this week.""

Multiple storm systems are forecast to sweep across the United States, potentially disrupting road and air travel during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. More than 122 million Americans are projected to travel for the holidays, a potential record and a 2.2 percent increase over 2024. A Pineapple Express from Hawaii will funnel warm, humid air and heavy rain into western Washington, Oregon, and northwestern California, raising flood risks. Flooding can occur quickly at higher elevations and persist longer in low-lying areas. Atmospheric rivers shifting south could increase river and small-stream flooding in western Oregon. Power outages and road closures have already occurred in western Washington.

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