Merry Christmas will bring bitter cold, rain and snow for many

Strong storms could add to travel chaos this week as heavy rains are forecast for the West Coast, while in the central and eastern states brutal cold and rainfall could halt traffic but bring smiles to millions dreaming of a white Christmas.

A low pressure system developing over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes was forecast to bring freezing rain to some areas on Sunday and Monday, and winter weather warnings were in effect. Snowfall will then “increase in extent and intensity” from North Dakota east through Michigan to the Northeast, said National Weather Service meteorologist David Roth.

Cold warnings were in effect for parts of New York and Pennsylvania, while freeze warnings and freeze warnings were issued for parts of southeast Georgia and northern Florida, Roth said.

The Alberta Clipper sweeping across the Great Lakes and the Northeast on Monday and Tuesday will bring gale-force winds in addition to snow, AccuWeather said. According to AccuWeather, wind gusts could reach speeds of 40 miles per hour, which combined with falling temperatures would result in wind chill temperatures in the teens.

From northern Wisconsin to northern Pennsylvania and parts of Maine, 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected to fall, while 3 to 6 inches could fall from northern Michigan into the Adirondacks, Green and White Mountains and into New England, the forecast said.

More:Strange winter weather: cold and snow in the east, but rain and warmth in the west

What is an Alberta Clipper?These storms move quickly, just like the ships they are named after

Developments:

∎ Some light snow or a wintry mix could impact morning travel along the heavily populated I-95 corridor Tuesday morning, AccuWeather said.

∎ Overall, this Christmas will be cooler than usual for many, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys told USA TODAY: “We’ve had these warmer winters. It will feel like Christmas compared to many others in the last decade.”

The south is preparing for storms

Areas of rain, fog and thunderstorms are likely from northeast Texas to the mid-Mississippi Valley and parts of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and other states in the region, forecasters said. The system will move eastward across the central Gulf Coast Monday night and Tuesday, and heavy rainfall and thunderstorms could occur along the coast on Christmas Day.

“Some of this rain, particularly in northeast Texas toward Little Rock (Arkansas), will be heavy,” Roy said. “Anyone traveling on Christmas Eve, particularly in the afternoon, may begin to have difficulty reaching their destination.”

“Giant fire hoses” of rain could blow up parts of the West

In the West, several storms will roll ashore by the end of the week, with each storm increasing the risk of mudslides and flooding, AccuWeather warned. Some areas could see up to 60cm of rain. According to AccuWeather, there will be “issues of heavy rain in San Francisco, Seattle and Portland,” with snow possible at higher elevations.

“One or more of the storms will likely develop an atmospheric river capable of dumping massive amounts of rain like a giant fire hose or snow like a giant snow machine toward parts of the West Coast,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said.

Climate change is impacting hopes for a white Christmas

Will we have a white Christmas? The annual question reaches its peak this week, but as the planet warms due to human-caused climate change, the chances of seeing snow at Christmas are becoming increasingly unlikely, recent studies and reports show.

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Merry Christmas will bring bitter cold, rain and snow for many

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