As families travel for the holidays Tuesday and Wednesday, a spring-like severe weather outbreak will likely affect the Midwest and South, causing flights to be delayed or canceled across the nation.
A severe weather could develop as early as Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. The cluster of storms is forming over Texas and Louisiana, and will begin lifting north and east Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
By Wednesday morning, a line of severe storms could form over the Ozarks and move east. As the storms approach the Mississippi River valley, the storms could be at their strongest.
The Storm Prediction Center has much of Tennessee and Arkansas — along with sections of Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama — under an enhanced risk of severe weather. Areas under a general risk of severe weather include St. Louis, New Orleans, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago and Detroit.
One of the primary concerns from Wednesday’s storms: Tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center says that significant tornadoes are possible through Wednesday evening.
Temperatures ahead of the storms will be more like April and May than December, as record highs are expected for much of the Midwest and East. Temperatures that are 25 to 30 degrees above average are forecasted east of the Mississippi River.
Meanwhile, Wednesday marks one of the busiest travel days of the year. With major airports such as Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, Memphis and Cincinnati, the ripple effects could cause travelers a lot of havoc Wednesday.
The severe weather could also affect travelers using Interstates 24, 40, 55, 65 and 70.
You can check for flight delays here
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