Meteorologists Say These Parts of the U.S. Are ‘Looking the Worst’ for Holiday Travel and Share Their Best Tips

Traveling for the holidays can be stressful when the weather doesn’t cooperate — but a little preparation can make the trip much smoother.

Dr. James Belanger, Vice President of Meteorology at The Weather Company, and Sara Tonks, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel app and weather.com, both emphasize one core idea: make weather checks part of your travel plan, not an afterthought.

Start with the simplest step: check the weather early and often

Belanger’s top advice is straightforward: check the weather. It sounds obvious, but he says many holiday travelers are so focused on getting to their destination that they don’t consider how quickly conditions can change.

Building weather into your planning can help reduce stress and give you options — like leaving earlier, delaying by a few hours (or even a day), or choosing a different route.

Belanger notes that travelers who anticipate weather disruptions are in a far better position than those who only react once problems start.

Use tools that help you adjust your plans in real time

Belanger recommends keeping an eye on the Weather Channel app for updates that can affect your travel decisions. Depending on how you’re traveling, you can use forecasts and travel-focused features to understand what may be ahead:

• If you’re driving: predicted snowfall over different time periods and hourly updates can help you decide whether to shift your departure time or avoid certain roads.
• If you’re flying: in addition to standard forecasts, you can check for information related to expected turbulence, along with conditions at both your departure and destination.

The goal, Belanger says, is to use that information to decide whether to fly or drive, when to leave, and what to expect along the way.

Areas to watch for potential disruptions

Tonks highlights a few regions where travelers may want to stay especially alert.

She says the West Coast — particularly the Pacific Northwest — could be the most challenging for travel in the coming week due to atmospheric river events and coastal storms, bringing rain and higher-elevation snow.

She adds that the Northeast may see changeable conditions, with unsettled weather expected Friday of this week and again Tuesday, which could matter for travelers trying to time plans around the busiest pre-holiday window.

Decide whether flexibility is possible — then plan around it

Belanger suggests thinking first about whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, and whether you have any flexibility to shift your travel by a day on either side. Even a small window can make a big difference if a storm system intensifies or shifts track.

He also notes that weather data can help answer practical questions like:

• Will flying mean a bumpier ride due to turbulence?
• Would driving be better, even if it means a longer route, because conditions are calmer?

If delays happen, patience goes a long way

Belanger also encourages travelers to be patient with airline and airport staff if delays or cancellations occur, especially during weather-related disruptions. He notes that these teams often face heavy pressure during peak travel periods when conditions deteriorate.

Where a “white Christmas” may be more likely

Tonks says a white Christmas looks most likely for the Northern Tier and Interior Northeast, as well as higher elevations in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains.

She adds that it’s also possible — though not guaranteed — for some major Northeast hubs, including New York, Boston and Philadelphia.