Plains Blizzard, ‘Hazardous to Even Impossible’ Travel Conditions, and Balmy Temperatures. Welcome to Christmas Day 2023
Sunset in a snowy Sidney, Nebraska
The Christmas Day weather look in the United States ranges from blizzard-like conditions to unusually warm temperatures. To enjoy a truly white Christmas, however, you do have your pick of ten states.
A large storm system will bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions across the country, the National Weather Service said.
The NWS has, as of 11:30 a.m. on Monday, winter storm warnings, winter weather advisories and blizzard warnings in place for ten states, namely Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota; and Washington.
The most intense weather will hit the northern/central Plains and Upper Midwest. Heavy snow will increase in coverage and intensity throughout Monday across northern Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The forecast calls for strong winds with gusts upward of 55 mph (88 km/h) that will lead to blizzard conditions, the agency warned.
“While a White Christmas may be exciting for those nestled at home, the heavy snowfall rates and reduced visibilities due to blowing snow will make for hazardous, to even impossible, travel conditions,” the forecast read.
Elsewhere in the country, the NWS said to expect widespread showers and storms to make for a wet Christmas and Boxing Day for much of the East Coast, with some flash flooding possible for the Appalachians although there will be unusually mild temperatures along and east of the Mississippi River with some record-breaking warmth possible in the Midwest and Great Lakes.
Across the Pond, the Deutscher Wetterdienst warned of a high risk of flooding along many rivers and streams following multiple days of heavy rainfall across much of the federal weather service warned on Sunday. The rainfall is forecast to continue on until Christmas Day, with almost 6” or 150 mm of rain within a period of 48 to 96 hours, the Wetterdienst warned.
Munich will remain partly cloudy with high temperature of 51° F (11° C) and Berlin will see late showers, with a high also of 51° F.
In Austria, light rain is expected in many areas with exceptionally warm weather for the holiday. Temperatures will hit a high of 57° F (14° C) in Vienna and Salzburg and Boxing Day or Stefanitag will be partly cloudy with a high of 50° F (10° C) and a slight chance of light rain.
In France, Paris will also see exceptionally warm temperatures, with a high on Christmas Day of 54° F (12° C) and a slight chance of showers throughout the day, while London, England will experience light drizzle throughout the day and a high temperature of 55° F (13° C).
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
