Weather Impacts on Travel: Prepare for Severe Conditions

Planning to travel today or this week? Here’s what could impact your route – and what you should do.

Heavy mountain snow tonight through Wednesday for Wyoming and Colorado
Blowing Dust can be expected today across central and northeast Illinois and adjacent Indiana.
Severe storms expanding from the Plains into the South and East through the first part of this week.

What this means for your trip

Watch out for blowing dust and potential dust storms on I-55, I-57, I-69 starting late morning. If caught on the road in a dust storm, pull as far off the shoulder AS FAR AS YOU CAN, LIGHTS OFF, foot OFF the brake, parking brake on.
Avoid mountain travel in Wyoming and Colorado, including I-25, I-70, I-80, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Severe-storm from the Plains into the Midwest, South, and parts of the East, will be most numerous and intensity late afternoon and evening for the first past of this week.

Your route’s weather may vary from the general forecast — check your exact trip

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Want a deeper look at conditions?

Below are the significant weather alerts and travel impacts across the country. Check out the extended forecast through May 10th at the end.

Weather Impacts Pacific:

— Mojave Desert, Indian Wells Valley, and Tehachapi Pass: Wind Advisory through Tuesday morning, with west to southwest winds 15 to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 to 55 mph creating hazardous crosswinds for high-profile vehicles and difficult towing. I-15, I-40, US-395, CA-14, CA-58 impacted.

— Southeast California deserts: Wind Advisory early this morning, with winds 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 55 mph creating difficult travel for RVs and trailers. I-8 impacted.

— San Gorgonio Pass and surrounding areas: Wind Advisory beginning this morning through late evening, with winds 20 to 30 mph and gusts to 50 mph creating hazardous crosswinds for high-profile vehicles. I-10, I-15, US-395, CA-18, CA-62, CA-138 impacted.

Weather Impacts Mountain:

— Wyoming lower elevations and basins: Freeze Watch Wednesday morning, with sub-freezing temperatures from 22 to 28 degrees for the Lander Foothills, Natrona County Lower Elevations, Southwest Bighorn Basin, Wind River Basin, Northeast Johnson County, and Southeast Bighorn Basin.

— Southeast Wyoming: Winter storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories beginning late evening and continuing through Wednesday. Snowfall of 5 to 16 inches will create snowpacked roads, slower travel, and difficult travel over higher terrain. I-25, I-80, US-30, US-85, US-287 impacted.

— Northern and central Colorado mountains and Front Range corridors: Winter storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories beginning Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon. Winter Storm Warning snowfall of 10 to 24 inches and nearby Winter Storm Watch and Winter Weather Advisory snowfall of 1 to 9 inches creating snowpacked passes, slick roads, and slower travel. I-25, I-70, I-76, US-24, US-34, US-36, US-40, US-85, US-285, US-287 impacted.

— Southern Colorado mountains: Winter Weather Advisory beginning Tuesday midday through Thursday morning, with 3 to 9 inches of snow creating slick roads and slower travel over higher terrain. I-25, US-24, US-50, US-85, US-160, US-285 impacted.

— Southeast New Mexico into far west Texas: High Wind Watch beginning Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, with winds 40 to 50 mph and gusts up to 70 mph creating potentially hazardous crosswinds for high-profile vehicles. US-62, US-180 potentially impacted.

Weather Impacts Central:

— Western South Dakota north of I-90: Wind Advisory beginning late this morning through early evening, with winds 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph creating hazardous crosswinds for high-profile vehicles. US-12, US-85, US-212 impacted.

— Wisconsin into northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota: Elevated fire weather and gusty winds through midday into early evening, with southwest winds gusting 35 to 40 mph, low humidity, warm temperatures, and dry fuels increasing fire spread risk and producing difficult handling for high-profile vehicles. I-39, I-41, I-43, I-90, I-94 impacted.

— Northern and western Illinois into eastern Iowa and northeast Missouri: Elevated fire danger and patchy blowing dust through late morning into early evening, with southwest winds gusting over 30 mph, low humidity, and locally reduced visibility in open agricultural areas. I-39, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, US-20, US-34 impacted.

— Much of central and northeast Illinois and adjacent northwest Indiana: BLOWING DUST ADVISORY late this morning through this evening. Localized visibility below 1/2 mile in blowing dust expected. I-39, I-55, I-57, I-65, I-74, I-80, I-90, I-94 impacted.

— Extreme southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas: Wind Advisory beginning late this morning through early evening, with southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts 40-45 mph creating difficult travel for RVs and trailers. I-55, US-49, US-62, US-63, US-67 impacted.

— Much of Missouri and Illinois and southern Wisconsin into central and eastern Oklahoma, much of Iowa, and eastern Kansas: Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon into tonight, with large hail and damaging winds. I-24, I-29, I-35, I-39, I-40, I-41, I-43, I-44, I-49, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, I-94 potentially impacted.

— Central and northeast Texas, Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma, and southern Missouri: Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening. The greatest risk of severe weather will be over much of Arkansas, parts of northeastTexas, parts of southeast Oklahoma, and parts of southern Missouri. I-10, I-14, I-20, I-22, I-24, I-30, I-35, I-40, I-44, I-45, I-49, I-55, I-57, I-69 potentially impacted.

— Central and eastern Texas, central and southern Arkansas, much of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, southern Tennessee: Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected Wednesday afternoon and evening, with damaging winds, large hail, and a couple of tornadoes possible. The greatest risk of severe weather will be over parts of central and northern Texas, southern Arkansa, much of Mississippi, central and western Louisiana, and central and western Alabama. I-10, I-12, I-14, I-20, I-22, I-24, I-30, I-35, I-37, I-40, I-45, I-49, I-55, I-59, I-65, I-69, I-75, I-85 potentially impacted.

— Central and northern Mississippi, central and northern Alabama, and central and southern western Tennessee: Flash flooding is possible Wednesday into early Thursday, with rainfall of 1.5 to 3 inches likely from the Tennessee Valley into the southern Appalachians. I-20, I-22, I-24, I-55, I-59, I-65, I-75 potentially impacted.

Weather Impacts Eastern:

— Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula: Elevated fire danger through early evening, with southwest winds 10 to 20 mph and frequent gusts of 25 to 35 mph creating increased fire spread risk. I-75, US-23, US-31, US-131 impacted.

— Much of Indiana, central and western Ohio, and southern Michigan Lower Peninsula: Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon into tonight, with large hail and damaging winds. I-57, I-64, I-65, I-69, I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-80, I-90, I-94, I-96 potentially impacted.

— Mid-Hudson Valley, eastern Catskills, Taconics, Berkshires, Litchfield County, and southern New England: Elevated fire weather through early evening, with southwest winds gusting 25 to 35 mph, relative humidity as low as 25 to 35 percent, and a lack of recent significant rainfall increasing fire spread risk. I-84, I-87, I-88, I-90, I-91, I-93, I-95 impacted.

— Lower Hudson Valley, southern Connecticut, and nearby New England terrain: Elevated fire weather through late evening, with southwest or northwest wind gusts 25 to 35 mph, relative humidity as low as 20 to 35 percent, and drying fine fuels increasing fire spread risk. I-84, I-86, I-87, I-91, I-95, US-6, US-7, US-202, CT-2 impacted.

— Western and Upstate New York, much of Maine west of I-95, much of Vermont, and New Hampshire: Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening. I-81, I-87, I-88, I-89, I-90, I-91, I-93, I-95 potentially impacted.

— Parts of western Georgia, parts of central and southern eastern Tennessee, and parts of southern North Carolina: Scattered strong to marginally severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening. I-20, I-24, I-59, I-75, I-85, US-19, US-27, US-29, US-64, US-72, US-74, US-76, US-78, US-127, US-278, US-431 potentially impacted.

— Parts of central and northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee: Flash flooding is possible Wednesday into early Thursday, with rainfall of 1.5 to 3 inches likely from the Tennessee Valley into the southern Appalachians. I-20, I-24, I-40, I-59, I-75, US-19, US-27, US-64, US-70, US-72, US-74, US-76, US-78, US-127, US-278 potentially impacted.

Outlook through May 10th:

— Wednesday, May 6 through Thursday, May 7: from the central Rockies and Plains into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes: Frost or freeze conditions may develop, which could create cold-weather travel concerns and issues for exposed plumbing or early-season travel. Major highways potentially affected include I-25, I-29, I-35, I-70, I-75, I-76, I-80, I-90, I-94.

— Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 9: eastern New York and New England, with nearby portions of western Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and northeastern West Virginia: Frost or freeze conditions may develop, which could create cold-weather travel concerns and issues for exposed plumbing or early-season travel. Major highways potentially affected include I-70, I-76, I-80, I-81, I-87, I-90, I-91.

Extended Outlook May 11th through May 17th:

— Monday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 13: much of California and Arizona: Hazardous heat is likely, which may create challenging travel conditions, especially for long drives and exposed routes. Major highways potentially affected include I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40.

— Monday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 12: from the Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley, central Appalachians, and Northeast: Much-below-normal temperatures may develop, which could create cold-weather travel concerns and issues for exposed plumbing or early-season travel. Major highways potentially affected include I-40, I-55, I-64, I-65, I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-84, I-87, I-90, I-91, I-94.

— Monday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 13: from eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Southeast, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast: Heavy rain may develop, which could create localized flooding or difficult travel conditions. Major highways potentially affected include I-10, I-20, I-40, I-55, I-64, I-65, I-70, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-84, I-85, I-87, I-90, I-91, I-95.

— Monday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 12: much of Florida: Hazardous heat may develop. Major highways potentially affected include I-4, I-75, I-95.

Forecast Confidence for the Extended Outlook:

Overall confidence is about average. Guidance shows good agreement on the large-scale pattern, with some uncertainty in the timing and strength of individual systems, especially later in the period.

Looking for real-time road conditions? Here’s a link, courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration, to all the individual State 511 websites.

Your route’s weather may vary from the general forecast — check your exact trip

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