Dangerous Mudslides, Whiteouts, and Icy Weather Cause Holiday Travel Headaches

Travelers across the United States are facing significant challenges due to severe weather conditions. Many are struggling to reach their destinations as hazardous roads have forced numerous individuals to abandon their vehicles. In Iowa, near the Minnesota border, abandoned cars litter the roadways, further exacerbating the dangerous conditions.

This Christmas season is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and a potential winter storm appears to be brewing, threatening blizzard-like conditions. Already, this storm has caused power outages in parts of the Upper Midwest, while other regions brace for plunging temperatures, strong winds, and a mix of snow, ice, and rain.

The heavy snowfall has intensified winds, resulting in blizzard conditions that have made some roads impassable. On Sunday, the National Weather Service warned of whiteout conditions across the Northern Plains.

In the Midwest, drivers struggled to maintain control on roads covered by heavy snow and battered by blistering winds. These harsh conditions affected much of the Midwest and Great Lakes, with ice covering parts of Indiana and Illinois, and heavy snow impacting Wisconsin.

This same weather system is now moving toward the Northeast, delivering a one-two punch to a region that is still recovering from its largest snowstorm in nearly four years. Tourists in New York City, such as Kolby Gray and his wife, were caught off guard. “We’re from West Virginia,” he said. “We’re here for our third anniversary, which was yesterday. We didn't think the snow would be this intense.”

However, some visitors, like Jennifer Yokley from North Carolina, embraced the wintry weather. “I think it’s absolutely beautiful,” she said. “It’s great to come to New York and see the snow.”

Severe weather has also disrupted air travel, resulting in thousands of canceled flights. Holiday travelers are stranded as they attempt to return home after Christmas or head to vacation destinations. Ron Dow, for instance, was trying to get to Hawaii from Boston's Logan Airport. “They canceled our flight to JFK, which caused us to miss our connecting flight,” he explained.

Thousands of additional flights have been delayed, causing frustration for weary travelers.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, parts of California have been inundated with mudslides due to days of heavy rain. Many roads and highways remain closed as mudslides make driving impossible. Near Big Bear Lake, five people, including two children, were injured when a massive boulder crashed into Highway 18, raising concerns among drivers about more debris falling.

Across the country, severe weather is complicating travel during this crucial week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.