Holiday travelers are facing flight cancellations as severe storms roll into the South
By Lauren Mascarenhas, Robert Shackelford and Taylor Ward, CNN
(CNN) — Holiday travelers setting out for what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year are already facing delays as a severe round of storms rolls into the Southern US.
The severe storms in the area prompted the National Weather Service to issue several tornado watches across two states by Thursday night. Earlier Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered ground stops at two Texas airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested an emergency response as weather conditions worsened.
More than 700 flights within, into or out of the US have been canceled Thursday, including hundreds of flights headed into or out of Dallas-Fort Worth, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware.
In New Jersey, a gaping sinkhole opened up along Interstate 80 in Wharton, in the eastern part of the state, prompting the state’s transportation department to close the interstate eastbound for emergency sinkhole repairs.
In the South, more than 1 million people in parts of Louisiana and southeastern Texas were under tornado watches by Thursday evening, according to the NWS.
A tornado watch was issued for western and central Louisiana and far southeastern Texas until 2 a.m. Central Time, according to the Storm Prediction Center. This watch includes Lake Charles and Alexandria, Louisiana, and Port Arthur, Texas.
Severe thunderstorms will move from Texas into Louisiana Thursday evening, bringing a continued threat of tornadoes and strong winds.
“Thunderstorms will continue to pose a threat for a few tornadoes this evening and into the early overnight hours as they spread east-northeastward into parts of western and central Louisiana,” the Storm Prediction Center said. “Damaging winds up to 60-65 mph and isolated hail may also occur,” it added.
Over 4 million people were under a level 3 of 5 severe storm threat Thursday afternoon in southeastern Texas, including Houston, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The center is warning of several tornadoes, including a strong tornado or two, and large hail from east Texas this afternoon and into Louisiana, southern Arkansas and far west central Mississippi overnight.
Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management on Thursday to activate state emergency response resources ahead of the severe weather threat across the eastern portion of the state, he announced on X.
“As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin traveling after the Christmas holiday, it’s crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials,” Abbott said in a news release.
The severe storm threat is expected to ramp up across the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley by Thursday afternoon and is expected to last until the evening as a low-pressure system across the region strengthens.
Storms could potentially bring severe wind gusts, damaging hail and a few tornadoes to cities including Houston and Austin.
An isolated severe storm threat spreads across central Texas to central Arkansas, western Mississippi and southern Louisiana, including cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock and Baton Rouge. The total population under some sort of severe storm threat Thursday exceeds 20 million people.
Severe storm threat outlook for this weekend
The severe storm threat is expected to diminish across the South Friday but ramp up again on Saturday.
“It appears that all severe-weather modes and hazards could occur, including large hail, damaging wind, and tornadoes as storms steadily develop east-northeastward Saturday afternoon and Saturday night,” warns the Storm Prediction Center.
Cities like Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham and Montgomery could all see a lower chance of storms Saturday.
This series of storms could affect the East Coast by Sunday and potentially lead to additional delays for those traveling home from the holidays.
A record number of travelers are expected to close out 2024, according to AAA. The association projected 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home from December 21 to January 1. That’s 3 million more travelers than the same period last year.
Atmospheric river-fueled storms pound the West Coast
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, a very active weather pattern is bringing rounds of coastal rainfall, gusty winds, mountain snowfall and dangerous waves across the region, as travelers make their way home around the holidays.
High wind alerts are in effect across the lower elevations of the Northwest and Northern California, where winds of 40 to 60 mph and isolated gusts of more than 65 mph are expected.
“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” the National Weather Service warned.
The winds are enhancing high waves across most of the West Coast, where a series of high surf and coastal flood alerts are in place.
Winter weather alerts are in place across parts of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies, as rounds of moisture continue to impact the West. Snowfall of 6 to 18+ inches and gusts potentially over 70 mph could reduce visibility, make travel nearly impossible and cause damage to trees and power lines.
The next in a series of atmospheric river-fueled storms is expected to bring another round of coastal and valley rainfall, mountain snowfall, gusty winds and high surf to the West Friday with other storms potentially impact the region Saturday and Sunday.
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CNN’s Sharif Paget contributed to this report.
