Severe weather could disrupt holiday travel, with tornadoes forecast in the South
Severe weather conditions across the U.S. could disrupt holiday travel this weekend, as millions of people set out to reach their destinations or return home. The National Weather Service is forecasting tornadoes and thunderstorms, heavy rain, and wind in many regions.
An outbreak of severe thunderstorms with tornadoes is possible in parts of East Texas, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee Valley, and central Gulf Coast states. Baton Rouge and Shreveport, La.; Mobile and Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and Jackson, Miss., are among cities under serious threat.
National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira says long-range tornadoes could strike some communities from the Texas-Louisiana border, northern and central Louisiana, and into parts of Mississippi.
“They could stay on the ground for quite a while and they could be very strong tornadoes, EF3, which is really significant,” he said. “Once they touch down, they remain on the ground, and can do damage over quite a length, quite a distance.”
Large hail and damaging winds are also expected.
The potential for dangerous storms and twisters comes as many are traveling for the holidays. Auto club AAA projects a record 119 million people are traveling through New Year’s Day. Nearly 107 million are traveling the nation’s highways. About 8 million are estimated to be flying, many through the nation’s busiest airline hubs.
More than 3,000 U.S. flights were delayed as of Saturday morning, according to FlightAware.com.
For parts of western Oregon and northern California, heavy rain and strong winds are in the forecast this weekend, with the worst conditions Saturday. Pereira says the atmospheric river is likely to return to the region and could cause flash flooding and other headaches.
“By the time we get into Monday, Tuesday, things should start to taper off. We could see an uptick later in the week, Tuesday, Wednesday, but currently that round doesn’t look as heavy as what is currently ongoing,” he said.
Meanwhile, it’s not likely to be a white New Year. Outside of higher elevations in the West, forecasters are not calling for snow. Instead, well-above normal temperatures are expected in much of the country in the coming days.
Trump plans to name himself chair of Kennedy Center, fire board members
The president announced Friday that he would remove multiple board members, including the Chairman, who do not share his vision for a "Golden Age in Arts and Culture."
Musk’s team takes control of key systems at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the latest target of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump says he is revoking Biden’s security clearances
Former presidents are historically given intelligence briefings after leaving office. But Trump said he was following precedent set by Biden four years ago, when Biden revoked Trump's access.
What’s Trump’s beef with South Africa?
Trump has accused South Africa of "human rights violations" and a land grab. The South African government has hit back.
Trump administration pauses $3 billion marked for electric vehicle charging stations
The Federal Highway Administration said the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program is under review. It was part of the Biden administration's clean energy push.
Judge pauses Trump order to put USAID employees on administrative leave
The case, brought by the American Foreign Service Association and the American Federation of Government Employees was intended to block the administration's efforts to dismantle USAID.