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According to a map shared by AccuWeather on Monday, 18 states have a “high” chance of a white Christmas this year, and even more states expect a fair chance of holiday snow.

Why it matters

Millions of Americans will travel for vacation this year. A report from the American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that more than 119 million Americans will have to drive at least 50 miles or more by year’s end.

Thanksgiving also brought record-breaking travel this year as millions of Americans faced dangerous weather conditions on their way home after the holiday, particularly in the Northeast, where lake-driven snow prompted officials in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York to urging people to delay travel until the worst of the snow has passed.

With Christmas falling on a Wednesday this year and just nine days away, Americans could leave early, meaning this weekend’s forecast could have the biggest impact on travel.

What you should know

AccuWeather’s White Christmas forecast map shows a “high chance” of snow in parts of 18 states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho, Utah, northern Arizona, northern New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Michigan and extreme northeastern Ohio, far northwest of Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

There is little chance of snow in much of the central and midwestern United States, with no chance in the far south.

As a result, some of the storms that could contribute to snow by Christmas could disrupt travel this weekend as Americans head out to visit friends and family.

In the central U.S., some unrest will impact the Plains states to the Midwest, but no “major storms” are forecast, according to AccuWeather.

From Northern California to Seattle there will be unsettled weather this weekend, with “storm after storm” every two days. Another storm is expected to sweep across the region on Friday night, with another, stronger storm likely to follow on Sunday.

States with the deepest snow levels on Monday are in the Pacific Northwest, another map created by AccuWeather showed.

What people say

AccuWeather long-range expert Paul Pastelok said Newsweek: “As we enter the holiday weekend, a blanket of snow could impact road traffic across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. By the time it gets to the east, it will be washed out and fall apart.”

He added: “The problem is the West Coast. She continues to be put under pressure.”

What happens next

Americans traveling for the holidays are urged to keep an eye on the weather forecast to identify disruptive trips that could impact their flights or cause problems while traveling by road.