Christmas Week Forecast: A Weekend Travel Headache Ahead?

December 20,2016
A busy travel week is ahead, and as usual this time of year, snow or rain may cause headaches for those taking to the roads or skies.
(MORE: White Christmas Outlook)
The good news is no major winter storms are expected during the work week, and most areas will see milder temperatures as the week progresses, compared to last week.
Christmas weekend, however, remains uncertain, as you would expect several days in advance.
(MORE: Christmas Weekend Snowstorm Possible)
Below, we break down the forecast day-by-day and highlight a few areas where travel troubles are anticipated. Changes in the forecast are likely as we get closer to Christmas, so be sure to check back to weather.com for updates.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

Wednesday

Wednesday's Forecast

A low-pressure system will slide eastward out of the Northwest, spreading light snow into the northern Plains and northern Great Lakes region.
The Northeast will see mainly dry conditions and milder temperatures, with just a few snow showers from northern New England to northern New York.
Mainly dry conditions and above-average temperatures will prevail from the Southwest into the Southeast, with just a slight chance of a shower in far southern Arizona.
(FORECAST: Pittsburgh | Miami | Denver)
Air Delays Possible: Green Bay (snow possible)
Road Delays Possible: I-94 from North Dakota to Wisconsin (snow); I-75 in northern Michigan (snow)

Thursday

Thursday's Forecast

A low-pressure system will move into the East, bringing snow to areas of the interior Northeast and northern New England. Another frontal system will push into the Pacific Northwest with rain and mountain snow. Meanwhile, a third system will bring rain and some mountain snow to the Southwest.
An area of high pressure will bring dry conditions to the Plains and South. Temperatures will remain near or above average for most of the country.
(FORECAST: Boston | New Orleans | San Francisco)
Air Delays Possible: Phoenix, Los Angeles (rain, low clouds)
Road Delays Possible: I-90 from Massachusetts to Ohio (rain to snow); I-10 from west Texas to California (rain); I-5 in Washington and Oregon (rain); I-90 in Washington Cascades (mountain snow)

Friday

Friday's Forecast

The low-pressure system in the East will push offshore, allowing for a dry day up and down Interstate 95 from Maine to Florida.
Farther west, rain is possible in parts of the southern Plains into the mid-Mississippi Valley, and snow showers are expected in portions of the upper Midwest. In between the areas of rain and snow, some sleet or freezing rain may lead to icy conditions.
A new, strong frontal system pushes into the West with rain and mountain snow. Depending on the track of that system, some low-elevation snow is possible once again in parts of Oregon and Washington.
(FORECAST: Syracuse | Raleigh | Salt Lake City)
Air Delays Possible: San Francisco (low clouds, threat of rain); Los Angeles (showers); Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas City (low clouds, threat of rain)
Road Delays Possible: I-5 from Washington to southern California (rain, mountain snow); I-80 in California, Nevada, Utah (rain, mountain snow)

Saturday/Christmas Eve

Saturday's Forecast (Christmas Eve)

A broad area of rain is possible from Texas and Louisiana to the Ohio Valley and parts of the Northeast and Southeast. Some light sleet, freezing rain or snow can't be ruled out on the northern edge of that precipitation shield.
Meanwhile, a potential winter storm will be kicking through the West, bringing snow to the Rockies, Sierra, High Plains, possibly the higher terrain of the Four Corners, along with a threat of rain to the Desert Southwest.
High temperatures in the East will generally be above average, while temperatures will be below average for much of the West.
(FORECAST: Cleveland | Houston | Seattle)
Air Delays Possible: Major Northeast hubs, Houston (low clouds/fog, threat of rain); L.A. (showers); Salt Lake City (rain/snow)
Road Delays Possible: I-75 from northern Georgia into Ohio (rain); I-65 from northern Alabama to Indiana (showers); I-15 north of L.A. to Montana (snow north, showers south); I-40 in New Mexico, Arizona (snow possible)

Sunday/Christmas

Sunday's Forecast (Christmas)

A new storm system could develop in the nation's midsection, but details are highly uncertain several days out. This could include heavy snow or a wintry mix in the Rockies, northern Plains and upper Midwest, with rain, perhaps thunderstorms, farther south in the Plains.
(FORECAST: New York | Atlanta | Minneapolis)
Check back for updates in the days ahead.
(MORE: Christmas Weekend Snowstorm Possible)
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