Travel & RV Weather Forecast Wednesday 21 December

** Heads Up ** High impact winter storm and associated arctic front will create dangerous conditions for RV (and most other) travel from the Pacific Northwest to the Southern Plains, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast today through Friday. Starting tonight, Be prepared for wind chills of zero, -25 and -50 deg F, on I-20, I-40 or I-80, respectively. Expect high winds with gusts to near hurricane force in New England on Friday. Northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, including the greater Portland metro area, has an increasing chance for a significant ice storm Thursday afternoon and Friday.

Major winter storm, Arctic Front, snow, high winds and bitter cold creates dangerous travel conditions from the Pacific Northwest, through the Rockies, the Plains north of I-40, the Mid-west, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through Friday.
Growing potential for a significant ice storm in western and northwest Oregon and southwest Washington Thursday afternoon and Friday.
Wind Chill Advisories and Warnings cover much of the Country from Washington State to Texas and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast.

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Pacific, Mountain and Central:

— Wind Chill Advisories and Warnings cover much of the Country bounded on the west from western Washington State, Idaho and Colorado to Texas and on the east from the Michigan to Mississippi and Georgia. Extreme wind chill values will spread south and east starting this afternoon from the Rockies and encompass this entire area by Friday morning.

Pacific:

— West-central and northwest OR; southwest WA: Winter Storm Watches Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon for a potentially significant ice storm. Ice accumulations could reach 1/2 inch. I-5, I-84 impacted.

— OR and WA eastern Columbia River Gorge, greater Portland metro area and south WA Cascades: High Wind Watches and Advisories this evening through early Friday morning. Wind gusts 55-75 mph. I-5, I-84 impacted.

— Central CA southern Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley: Dense Fog Advisories through midday today. I-5, CA-99 impacted.

— Central CA Big Sur coast and Santa Lucia Mountains; also east and southeast of Santa Barbara: Wind Advisories this morning. Gusts to 45 mph. I-5, US-101, CA-1 impacted.

Mountain:

— Western MT; central and eastern ID; western and south-central WY; north-central and northeast UT; northwest and west-central CO: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories through early Thursday. Accumulations will range from a few inches in drier valleys to 6-12 inches in the mountains. Wind gusts 45-55 mph and bitterly cold air will create blowing snow, near zero visibility in places and wind chill values as low as -50 deg F. I-15, I-70, I-80, I-84, I-90 impacted.

— Southwest and south-central ID: Wind Advisory today. Gusts to 45 mph.

— Portions of central and northeast UT: High Wind Warnings and Advisories this afternoon through Thursday morning. Gusts 55-65 mph. I-70 impacted.

— South-central and southeast WY: High Wind Warnings today. Gusts 70-80 mph. I-25, I-80 impacted.

— South-central CO; north-central NM: High Wind Watches this evening through Thursday morning. Gusts to 60 mph. I-25 potentially impacted.

Central:

— Most of MN and WI; most of IA and IL; east-central and southeast NE; northeast KS; most of MO: Blizzard (southeast MN) and Winter Storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories today through Saturday morning. In general, 2-6 inches of snow combine with wind gusts to 45 mph and bitterly cold temperatures, creating dangerous travel conditions. Major highways impacted include I-29, I-35, I-39, I-43, I-44, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, I-94.

— Portions of west-central KS; central and southeast OK: Freezing Fog and Dense Fog Advisories this morning. I-40, I-70 impacted.

Eastern:

— MI Upper Peninsula: Winter Weather Advisories this evening through Thursday evening. 3-8 inches snow likely. I-75, US-2, US-41 impacted.

— MI; most of IN; northern OH; northwest PA; western NY south of Buffalo: Winter Storm Watches Thursday evening through Saturday. Expect Blizzard or near-blizzard conditions. Accumulations will range from several inches in the southern regions to up to a foot of snow in MI. Wind gusts 45-55 mph and wind chill values as cold as -30 deg F. Major highways impacted include I-65, I-69, I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-77, I-79, I-80, I-90, Indiana Toll Rd, Ohio Turnpike, NY Thruway.

— South-central PA; western MD; eastern WV; western and southwest VA; far-western NC and adjacent eastern TN: Winter Storm Warnings (northeast WV; far-west MD) and Advisories late tonight and Thursday. Snow, sleet and freezing rain will accumulate 1-3 inches except 4-7 inches in the Winter Storm Warning areas. Greater amounts of ice above 2000 feet. I-26, I-40, I-64, I-66, I-68, I-70, I-76, I-77, I-81, I-99, PA Turnpike impacted.

— Western NY downwind of Lake Ontario: Winter Storm Watch Friday afternoon through Monday. Heavy lake effect snow, flash freezing conditions and wind gusts 50-65 mph will create blizzard and near blizzard conditions. I-81 impacted.

— Northern NY; northern VT and NH; southern ME; coastal NH; eastern MA: High Wind Watches late Thursday night through Friday. Gusts 60-70 mph. I-81, I-87, I-89, I-91, I-93, I-95 impacted.

— Eastern ME: Flood Watch Friday from a combination of heavy rains and significant snow-melt. I-95 potentially impacted.

Access to real-time road information:

Phone numbers and websites for road conditions in all 50 states. Courtesy of the Cheyenne WY Weather Forecast Office

Severe Weather and Tropical Watches and Warnings

— See https://rvweather.com/warnings-watches-and-advisories/#SPC_Tornado_Watch for the latest Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm WATCHES

— See https://rvweather.com/warnings-watches-and-advisories/#NHC_Hurricane_Advisory for the latest Tropical Cyclone WARNINGS and information.

— See https://rvweather.com/warnings-watches-and-advisories/#NWS_Tornado_Warning for the latest Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, and Flash Flood WARNINGS.

Wind gusts Wednesday afternoon 21 December
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Wednesday or Wednesday night 21 December
Wind chill values Thursday morning 22 December
Wind gusts Thursday afternoon 22 December
Ice (freezing rain) accumulations through Thursday night 22 December
Likelihood of winter weather impacts to RV travel Thursday or Thursday night 22 December
Wind chill values Friday morning 23 December
Likelihood of winter weather impacts to RV travel Friday or Friday night 23 December
Total snow accumulation through Friday night 23 December
Risk of flash Floods Friday and Friday night 23 December
Total precipitation amounts through Friday night 23 December
Wind chill values Saturday morning 24 December