Drenching rain to disrupt holiday travel across eastern US
By Renee Duff for AccuWeather
Rounds of heavy rain are poised to delay travelers along the eastern United States in the final days leading up to Christmas.
"Travelers up and down the Eastern Seaboard will have to contend with bouts of heavy rain over the next few days," AccuWeather Meteorologist Bill Deger said.
Following a storm that brought steady rain to the eastern half of the country on Tuesday, a larger storm will bring even heavier rainfall to many of the same locations on Wednesday.
The rain could continue into Christmas Eve.
Cities to be impacted by periods of heavy rain into Christmas Eve include Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Nashville and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rain will douse these locations during busy travel days, causing a headache for many hitting the roads.
A widespread 1 to 2 inches of rain is likely across the Northeast into Christmas Eve, with higher amounts to the south.
Record-breaking warmth has kept snowy and icy conditions at bay, dashing any remaining hope of a white Christmas across the East.
"The biggest issue [for drivers] will be reduced visibility and slick road conditions," AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey said.
Fog can be especially dense in portions of the Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts.
Duffey encouraged travelers to make a point of allowing themselves some extra time when heading to their holiday destinations.
Track the rain before heading out by using AccuWeather Minutecast®.
Drivers should reduce speeds when driving through heavy rain to lower the chance of hydroplaning.
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The potential for flash flooding also exists, mainly in southern areas.
"Flash flooding is of particular concern along a corridor from Alabama and Georgia north through the western Carolinas and Virginia, where rain will total several inches," Deger said.
Motorists should turn around and find an alternate route to their holiday destinations whenever a flooded roadway is encountered.
Although the bulk of the rain will exit the Northeast by Christmas Day, showers could linger across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
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