The week ahead is likely to be fraught with hazardous weather conditions that will likely interfere with both passenger travel and cargo transport.
AccuWeather's expert team of meteorologists said on Sunday they've grown increasingly confident that a serious storm will emerge later this week, threatening to affect a wide swath of the country.
A portion of the storm is expected to extend from southern areas of the Plains across the Midwest to the Northeast and possibly even the interior Southeast states. Denver can expect to see several inches of snow on Wednesday night as snow falls across the Western interior.
Due to a surge of frigid air, which will take ambient temperatures to "bone-chilling" levels during the holiday weekend, the strengthening storm could create one of the most intense and lengthy periods ofArctic air in decades.
There is a chance that the storm could cause a rapid freeze-up. When there is a small amount of snow, it can cause a quick freeze-up and dangerous travel conditions. It is a concern for parts of the lower Mississippi Valley.
By the middle of the week, a reinforcing burst of Arctic air will send temperatures well below zero. Temperatures could dip as low as 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit below zero in some areas. https://t.co/6jF1C2kJ62 pic.twitter.com/caFjx9W5a9
— Breaking Weather by AccuWeather (@breakingweather) December 18, 2022
The lead-up to Christmas Day is one of the busiest travel days of the year. It isn't even considering the holiday season's heavy demand placed on retailers and shipping companies to keep storesstocked and deliveries running on time.
The experts who have been watching the storm can't predict how it will evolve. One storm may track toward the Great Lakes and the other may coalescing over the Appalachians or along the Atlantic coast. The Christmas holiday could get worse if that happens.
"The exact track of the storm will dictate which areas receive heavy snow versus heavy rain and the most significant impacts, but people and businesses in the eastern US should be extra alert and frequently check AccuWeather forecasts this week to stay updated on expected impacts."
It is recommended that holiday travelers who have any flexibility around their departure dates adjust their plans to avoid the storm, which is expected to arrive late in the week and continue into Christmas weekend.
There is a chance that the storm will leave people stranded on the highways and airports. If an airport is not in the storm's primary target zone, delays at other travel hubs could cause a cascading effect.
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