Christmas Travel Outlook: Central U.S. Sees Travel Trouble | WeatherBug
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Christmas Travel Outlook: Central U.S. Sees Travel Trouble

December 25, 2023
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Andrew Rosenthal
The Central U.S. will be the main area for travel trouble on Christmas Day.
 
Christmas Day (Today)
 
The stormy weather will continue to make its way eastward for Christmas, bringing heavy rainfall into the Interstate 55 corridor around Chicago and St. Louis, and moving as far east as Interstates 24 and 65 across the Mid-South. Be prepared for some slow drives in this area, and for some delays at the airports in Memphis (MEM) and Nashville (BNA). By afternoon, Atlanta (ATL) and Miami (MIA) will join the list.
 
Travel will become difficult if not impossible across the Dakotas and Nebraska today as blizzard conditions set into the region. Interstate 80 and 90, the primary east-west roads of the area, will have their share of trouble, with a likely very slow go of it on north-to-south U.S. Routes 83 and 81 due to whiteout conditions.
 
A slick Christmas will be found in the Northwest, where passes will see snow falling throughout the day. Along the eastern fringes of the Cascades, travel along Interstates 84 and 90 will be difficult thanks to periods of freezing rain, while the Interstate 5 corridor from Seattle to Portland and southward into northern California will remain plain rain.
 
The only travel trouble across the Southwest, Rockies and most of the Northeast will be from sun glare. In fact, parts of the East will be warm enough, into the 60s and 70s, to allow for an open top on that brand-new convertible coming for Christmas.
 
Travel safely with your friends and family this Christmas and have a very Happy Holiday from everyone at WeatherBug.