For millions of people, Christmas or Hanukkah travel is coming up, and the weather needs to be factored into your plans for this holiday season.

Let’s take a look at where the weather conditions will rank on the list of naughty weather conditions this year:

Late Week: Snowy upper Midwest to Northeast

• Fast-moving clipper systems will sweep snow from the Dakotas to the Great Lakes on Thursday and Friday.
• Significant snowfall is possible from North Dakota to Wisconsin through Thursday. If you can postpone your plans until Friday or the weekend, the weather will be much more cooperative.
• The snow will likely slow portions of Interstates 29, 39, 41, 43, 90 and 94 in those states.
• Generally lighter snow is expected Friday from the Great Lakes, the Ohio Valley and the Appalachian Mountains to the interior Northeast. Rain is most likely along Interstate 95, but there may be some flakes, especially Friday evening. Snowfall is possible elsewhere in the Northeast on Friday.
• With this clipper system coming through, some gustier conditions are possible.
• Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, M​inneapolis, New York and Pittsburgh could experience weather-related delays through Friday night.
• Conditions will be warm and pleasant in the rest of the country.

This weekend into early next week: Mostly dry but stubbornly wet across the northwest

• The West Coast from Central California to Washington will remain wet through the weekend. Snow should remain trapped in the Cascades at higher elevations. Winds may also increase as gusts arrive from the Pacific late Sunday and late Monday.
• Delays may occur on most Interstates 5, 82, 84 and 90 through the region.
• There may also be airport delays in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.
• Aside from a few quick gusts of wind from clipper systems, it will be dry almost everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains.
• Temperatures will be warm west of the Mississippi, ranging from 40 degrees in the Rocky Mountains to 60 degrees and 70 degrees from California to Texas. If you’re traveling in or through the Midwest or Northeast, you may want to pack an extra jacket. Highs in the teens, 20s and 30s will be commonplace.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: New trouble spots

• Central and Eastern USA: A new system will bring rain or snow showers. Most of the precipitation will fall as rain, but light snow or a mix of rain and snow on the northern edge of this system could impact the Great Lakes and interior Northeast.
• The new system could dampen plans along Interstates 10, 20, 35, 44, 64 and 70 from Texas to the lower Great Lakes.
• West Coast, Rocky Mountains: A stronger Pacific storm will move across the West before Christmas with rain and snow.
• Details remain uncertain, but the storm could reach as far away as Colorado by Christmas. After Santa Claus departs in parts of the Rocky Mountains, you may be able to hit the slopes with fresh snow.
• Portions of numerous roads and highways through the mountains generally north and west of Denver could be affected.
• Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis are most likely to experience delays near the holidays. Denver could also experience weather-related delays this Christmas if these storm systems move faster than currently forecast.
• Temperatures: Expect a warm-up by Christmas Day. Some in the central U.S. could see high temperatures more than 20 degrees above average. This means highs in the 30s and 40s along the northern tier and 70s to 80s across the southern tier.
• Changes to these forecasts are expected. Please check back regularly to find out about the latest developments.

(​MORE: White Christmas forecast 2024)

Jonathan Belles is a graphic meteorologist and author for Weather.com for 8 years and also helps produce videos for The Weather Channel en español. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but he also enjoys covering severe weather events, news reports, and winter storms. He is a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.