- Storms intensifying this week will affect millions of people in at least 20 states, potentially disrupting holiday travel plans
- Texas could see rain and snow over the weekend and into next week, bringing rain and gusty winds as a low-pressure storm moves into Florida
- Major cities including Boston, New York, Washington and Philadelphia could see up to three inches of rain
The East Coast is bracing for a messy, wet weekend as two storm systems are expected to merge and move up the coast ahead of crazy holiday travel.
Storms intensifying this week will affect millions of people in at least 20 states, potentially disrupting holiday travel plans, according to the Fox Forecast Center.
Those hoping for a white Christmas are out of luck, however, as snowstorm expectations continue to dwindle.
Texas could see rain and snow over the weekend and into next week, bringing gusty winds as a low-pressure storm moves into Florida.
“If those two phases are together, then we’re talking about a much stronger system that will continue to move up into the jet stream, move up the coastline,” said meteorologist Jane Minar of FOX Weather. “Putting that low is going to be one thing we have to watch very carefully.”
Major cities including Boston, New York, Washington and Philadelphia could see up to three inches of rain.
“Timing is everything,” FOX Weather meteorologist Craig Herrera said of the approaching storm in New York. “When you talk about Sunday, Monday, that’s when we watch all that energy come together.”
The storm will move up the Interstate 95 corridor, causing potential damage along the way.
“It’s really one of those systems that’s going to produce a lot of rain up and down the I-95 corridor,” Herrera added. “You talk about rain, more of it, from Florida it clears up to New England.”
The storm will then move across the Plains states and Midwest, encompassing the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and gusty winds.
Snowfall is possible over higher ground in the interior Northeast.
Long delays can be expected from Saturday morning on the road and at airports.
“It’s a stretch that’s so popular for driving,” meteorologist Britta Merwin told FOX Weather.
“I mean Corridor 95 every weekend can be jammed. But you add in the fact that next week is the last full week before Christmas and we’re also wrapping up with Hanukkah. You know, a lot of people are going to be trying to move up and down the East Coast.
Rain combined with wintry and cloudy skies can disrupt airport arrivals and departures, causing delays and disruptions.
“We’ll easily have wind gusts that are 40, 45 mph, depending on the position of the bottom,” Merwin added. “This could actually increase the wind in the forecast. This is probably the most variable variable in this when it comes to placement – depending on where it is lowest above ground or above water.
Last week, a tornado hit an Irish town as Storm Fergus battered the island.
Footage shared on X shows a possible tornado making its way past anchored boats and causing flashes of blue light. A few pieces of debris can be seen scattered around due to the strong winds.
Emergency services were called to a Leitrim village on Sunday afternoon after high winds flattened trees, toppled a roof from a building and left debris strewn across the street.
Met Eireann meteorologist Liz Walsh said reports of tornadoes in the area were “probably true” or “certainly some very strong winds associated with the thunderstorm”.
She said the forecaster relies on messages and videos on social media to tell for sure if it’s a tornado.
