"Storms Disrupt Holiday Plans: How the South’s Severe Weather is Affecting Flights"

A tornado watch is in effect for western and central Louisiana and the southeastern section of Texas, until 2 a.m. Central Time, according to the Storm Prediction Center. This watch includes the areas around Lake Charles and Alexandria in Louisiana, as well as Port Arthur, Texas.

Strong thunderstorms are forecast to move through Texas and into Louisiana on Thursday evening, increasing the threat of tornadoes and damaging winds.

“The threat of tornadoes will continue for the remainder of the evening and into the early overnight hours as thunderstorms push east-northeastward reaching portions of western and central Louisiana,” the Storm Prediction Center said in a statement. “Winds could also be 60-65 mph, & isolated hail is possible as well,” it added.

More than 4 million people in southeastern Texas, including Houston, were under a level 3 out of 5 severe storm threat by Thursday afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center warned that the storm system would bring with it several tornadoes, possibly a few strong ones, and large hail as it continues east, through Louisiana, southern Arkansas and western Mississippi overnight.

Thursday evening, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Division of Emergency Management to assist in deploying state emergency resources for imminent severe weather across eastern Texas, according to a post on X.

“As Texans and out-of-state visitors resume travel in the days following Christmas, it is vital for all Texans to remain vigilant, check road conditions, prepare an emergency plan and follow the advice of local and state officials,” Abbott said in a news release.

A threat for storms is expected to ramp up through Thursday afternoon further east across the Southern Plains and Upper Mississippi River Valley as a low-pressure system strengthens over that area and pushes eastward.

This set of storms could spawn damaging wind gusts, destructive hail and isolated tornadoes, especially in Houston and Austin.

And an isolated severe storm threat stretches from central Texas to central Arkansas, western Mississippi and southern Louisiana, affecting cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock and Baton Rouge. More than 20 million people are at risk from severe storms on Thursday.

Outlook for the weekend severe storm threat After a Friday when the severe storm danger will be diminished across the South, it will soar again on Saturday.

“All varieties of severe weather are possible — including large hail, destructive winds, and tornadoes — as storms continue, at a steady pace, to move east-northeastward during the afternoon and into the night” on Saturday, the Storm Prediction Center warned.

Cities such as Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham and Montgomery might see the risk of storms diminished on Saturday.

This series of storms may affect the East Coast by Sunday, creating potential delays for holiday travelers heading home.

AAA expects a record number of travelers finishing off 2024, with 119.3 million people expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home between December 21 and January 1. This is an increase of 3 million travelers from the previous year.

Atmospheric river-driven storms lash West Coast At the same time, the West Coast is in the grip of a highly active weather system with persistent rainfall along the coast, gales of wind, mountain snowfall and dangerous waves. Those conditions are adding to challenges for travelers heading home for the holidays.

There are high wind advisories in effect across lower elevations in the Northwest and Northern California, where winds are expected to top out at 40 to 60 m.p.h., with isolated gusts over 65 m.p.h.

“The winds will possibly bring down trees and power lines, resulting in widespread power outages. Travel will become very difficult potentially, especially for high profile vehicles,” the National Weather Service warned.

Gusty winds are also whipping up huge waves along the West Coast, prompting a string of high surf and coastal flood warnings.

Winter weather warnings were in effect across the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rockies, where more rounds of moisture will work their way into the region. Snowfall could total between 6 and 18 inches, and gusts could top 70 mph, reducing visibility and making travel dangerous while doing extensive damage to trees and power lines.

And another storm fueled by the weather pattern known as an atmospheric river is expected to soak the West, bringing more rain, mountain snow, howling winds and a dangerous surf on Friday, with more storms possibly coming through the region over the weekend.