New York, NY – Families heading home after Christmas across the Great Lakes, Appalachians, and Northeast could face dangerous and rapidly changing travel conditions as a powerful post-Christmas winter storm spreads ice, sleet, and heavy snow across multiple states.
According to the NOAA Weather Prediction Center, the storm is expected to create hazardous travel conditions from the Great Lakes through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast from Thursday night through Friday night, with lingering impacts into Saturday morning.
Forecasters warn of a multi-hazard winter storm, including freezing rain, sleet, and snow, affecting major travel corridors across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Ice accumulations over one-quarter inch are possible from northwest Pennsylvania into western Maryland, raising the risk of tree damage and power outages.
A particularly dangerous ice and sleet zone is expected from central Pennsylvania through the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. metro areas, where even small amounts of ice could make highways and secondary roads treacherous. Meanwhile, a swath of heavy snowfall — at least six inches — is forecast from central New York into northeast Pennsylvania, extending into parts of New England.
Snowfall rates could be heavy enough in some areas to overwhelm plowing efforts, while freezing rain may create nearly invisible black ice, especially on bridges, overpasses, and ramps. The National Weather Service warns that post-holiday travel delays and cancellations are likely, particularly Friday.
Officials urge travelers to delay departures if possible, monitor weather alerts closely, and prepare emergency supplies if travel is unavoidable. Even experienced winter drivers may encounter near-impossible driving conditions during peak storm periods.
Families returning home are encouraged to build flexibility into travel plans, check road conditions frequently, and stay updated as the storm evolves.
