Weather Wise: Holiday Travel Hints

Get ready for a mixed bag of weather this holiday season! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has some interesting predictions. Most of the country can expect mild weather, making travel a breeze. But folks on the West Coast and in the south-central U. S. might face some rough conditions. Heavy rain and snow are expected on Christmas night along the West Coast. The south-central region might see showers and thunderstorms. An "active storm track" in the Pacific Ocean is causing quite a stir. Northern California and western Oregon could see up to 4 inches of rain. A cold front is trailing this storm, bringing heavy snow, especially in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains. Areas like South Lake Tahoe might see up to 8 inches of snow, making travel challenging. Storms in the Northwest could lead to flooding and avalanches in mountainous areas. The northern Plains and Upper Midwest might deal with freezing rain and fog. This could make driving tricky, especially on bridges and overpasses. A low-pressure system in Texas is bringing scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Some areas might see an inch or more of rain. Severe thunderstorms, flooding, and isolated tornadoes could impact parts of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas on Thursday. The East Coast might see milder temperatures as a high-pressure system moves offshore. Most of the country should enjoy warmer-than-average temperatures, with daytime highs in the 60s and 70s for much of Texas on Christmas Day.