Christmas holiday travel is about to ramp up, and the weather could lead to significant headaches both on the roads and at some East Coast airports already Friday.
Friday
Friday will bring unsettled weather to both coasts, with windy weather in between.
West: The heaviest rain will fall in southern Oregon and Northern California, with some rain also expected as far south as the Bay Area-Sacramento Interstate 80 corridor. Watch for local flash flooding, especially near areas recently burned by wildfires. Light showers will continue in the Pacific Northwest and snow could make travel slippery in the Cascades and northern Rockies.
Central:It will be quite windy in the Plains from Texas to Minnesota and the Dakotas, once again. You'll have to keep a tight grip on the steering wheel, particularly on east-west roads.
East:A powerful cold front will produce strong winds over much of the East and Great Lakes, particularly the Northeast. These wind gusts may be capable of tree damage, power outages and flight delays in the Northeast, especially in the morning. Bands of heavy rain are expected Friday ahead of the front, with wind-driven lake-effect snow possible in the eastern Great Lakes snowbelts.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
Saturday
Saturday travel should be mostly trouble-free, as far as weather is concerned, with just a few minor concerns.
West:Mainly light rain and mountain snow is expected in the Pacific Northwest from Washington and northwest Oregon to northern Idaho and far northwest Montana. This could lead to slippery travel in the high country. Otherwise, any Northern California rain should hold off until Saturday evening.
Great Lakes:A cold front could produce a band of rain or snow through parts of the western Great Lakes. Otherwise, strong northwest winds behind the front will whistle through the upper Midwest, and some lake-effect snow could develop in the snowbelts of northern Michigan later.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Seattle, San Francisco (late)
Sunday
West:There's a threat for heavier rain in Northern California, particularly north of the Bay Area and Sacramento, that could lead to local flash flooding, especially near recently-burned areas. Otherwise, rain and Cascades snow are expected in both Oregon and Washington, and northern Rockies snow will pick up, as well.
Central, East:Winds will be the main concern in two areas. Strong northwest winds are expected in the Northeast, particularly near and over higher elevations from the Appalachians to New England. We can't rule out a few snow showers and snow squalls in parts of upstate New York and northern New England. Southerly winds will increase in parts of the Plains from Oklahoma to Nebraska.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Seattle, San Francisco, Houston (low clouds/fog?), Newark (wind?)
Monday
Overall, Monday looks like a fairly decent day to travel, weather-wise, across most of the country.
West:Light rain and Cascades snow should continue in Washington state and western Oregon. At least some light snow may leak into the northern Rockies. Rain will likely linger in Northern California, including the Bay Area, and that could be locally heavy, in spots.
South:Just a few showers are possible in parts of coastal Texas and Louisiana. They should just be a nuisance and shouldn't lead to major travel delays.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Seattle, San Francisco, Houston (low clouds/fog?)
Tuesday
This key travel day before Christmas Eve could have a few more weather headaches, both in the East and West.
East:There may be some light snow, sleet or freezing rain in parts of the Northeast if just enough cold air holds in place. The best chance of this, for now, is in New England and the interior Northeast from parts of northern Pennsylvania to central and upstate New York. Otherwise, rain showers and some gusty winds are possible in the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley.
West:Heavier rain may move into Northern California, possibly including the Bay Area, that could lead to local flash flooding. Some of this rain and mountain snow could stream into parts of Oregon and the northern Rockies, as well. Some lighter showers may still hang over western Washington.
Potential weather-related flight delays: Seattle, San Francisco, Boston (rain or snow?)
This Weekend's Temperature Outlook
As you travel this weekend, keep in mind that there will be huge temperature swings across the country. And even huge swings day-by-day in certain cities this weekend.
The Southwest will stay warm with record highs for this time of year. The South will stay warmer than it has been recently, with a gradual warmup through the weekend in Atlanta.
Temperatures are more interesting in the North. Highs in parts of the upper Midwest could stay in the teens and 20s through the weekend, but with an advancing cold front across the region, places like Chicago will be on a bit of a temperature roller coaster through the weekend.
Make sure you check back often since the forecast will likely change. We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season.
Jennifer Grayis a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.