Planning to travel today or this week? Here’s what could impact your route – and what you should do.
- Mountain snow and wind in the Sierra and northern Rockies making passes difficult to cross today into Thursday
- High winds across Wyoming and the western High Plains with gusts up to 80 mph creating hazardous crosswinds
- Severe thunderstorms expanding across the Plains and Midwest Thursday with hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes
What this means for your trip
- If you are crossing the Sierra or northern Rockies, expect the toughest mountain travel from late today into Thursday. Consider delaying pass crossings until snowfall and wind ease.
- Routes across Wyoming, the San Luis Valley, and other exposed western high plains corridors may become uncomfortable or unsafe for RVs and trailers once winds increase later today and again Thursday.
- Thursday looks like a higher-end severe weather day from Kansas and Iowa into Missouri and southern Minnesota. Plan on being stopped in a safe place by dinner-time.
- In Texas this morning, later departures may be the better choice where fog cuts visibility, especially along I-10, I-35, and the Houston-area corridors.
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 latest alerts and travel impacts across the country.
For real-time updates, scroll to the graphics below or visit the Weather Hub.
Weather Impacts Pacific:
— Central and eastern Washington from Wenatchee and Moses Lake through Kittitas, Yakima, the eastern Columbia Gorge, the Blue Mountain foothills, Alpowa Summit, and White Pass: Wind Advisory through late tonight, and through Thursday morning at White Pass, with winds 20 to 35 mph and gusts 45 to 55 mph. Hazardous crosswinds will make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles. I-90, I-82, I-84, US-12, US-97.
— Southeast Washington and northeast Oregon: Flood Watch through Thursday night as heavy rainfall develops tonight through Thursday morning. The Blue Mountains are expected to receive 3 to 4 inches and the Blue Mountain Foothills are expected to receive 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Water over roads and flooded low spots are possible in lower crossings and drainage-prone stretches. I-84, US-12, US-395.
— The Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington: Winter Weather Advisory through late evening with 4 to 12 inches above 4500 feet and gusts up to 50 mph. Slick roads, reduced visibility, and snow-covered passes will slow travel. I-84, US-26, US-395.
— Northern Sierra Nevada and the southern Cascades in California: Winter Storm Warning through early evening with an additional 6 to 12 inches above 5000 feet, up to 18 inches on the highest peaks, minor accumulations down to 4500 feet, and gusts up to 50 mph. Dangerous mountain travel with snow-covered passes and periods of poor visibility. I-80, US-50, CA-70, CA-89.
— The higher southern Sierra from Kaiser to Rodgers Ridge through Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite high country: Winter Storm Warning through early evening with an additional 1 to 3 inches around 7000 feet, up to 1 foot on the highest peaks, and gusts up to 45 mph. Slick roads and slower travel are likely on higher-elevation routes. CA-168.
— The Greater Lake Tahoe area and Mono County: Winter Weather Advisory through early evening with 3 to 8 inches above 6500 feet around Tahoe, 5 to 10 inches above 7000 feet in Mono County, 1 to 4 inches in some lower communities along US-395, and gusts up to 60 mph. Snow-covered passes and slower travel remain likely on the eastern Sierra routes. I-80, US-50, US-395, CA-89, CA-120.
Weather Impacts Mountain:
— Eastern Idaho ranges above 6500 feet and central Idaho passes: Winter Weather Advisory beginning around midday and continuing through Friday with 5 to 10 inches above 6500 feet in the Big Hole, Centennial, Bear River, and Caribou ranges, 6 to 10 inches at pass level near Elk City and Dixie, 5 to 10 inches at Bannock and Lost Trail, and over 12 inches on higher peaks. Snow-covered passes and slower travel are likely. US-20, US-26, US-93, US-95, US-12.
— The Snake River Plain and Arco-Mud Lake Desert in Idaho: Wind Advisory beginning around midday through Thursday morning with winds 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. Crosswinds will make travel harder on open stretches. I-15, I-86, US-20, US-26, US-93.
— The Absaroka-Beartooth and Gallatin-Madison ranges in Montana: Winter Storm Warning beginning early evening and continuing through Friday morning with 5 to 15 inches of snow and gusts 40 to 60 mph. Dangerous mountain travel is likely on higher routes. US-89, US-191, US-212.
— Southwest, west-central, and north-central Montana: Winter Weather Advisory beginning early evening through Friday with 3 to 9 inches in many mountains, 2 to 5 inches in some valleys, up to 3 inches on nearby plains, 5 to 10 inches at pass level, and over 12 inches on the highest peaks; Marias Pass, MacDonald Pass, Homestake Pass, Lost Trail Pass, and Lolo Pass are especially exposed. Slick roads, snow-covered passes, and slower travel are likely. I-15, I-90, US-2, US-12, US-89.
— Parts of central and southwest Montana, including Judith Gap and parts of the Gallatin Valley: Winter Storm Watch beginning early evening through Friday, with 2 to 11 inches possible and gusts up to 50 mph. Travel may worsen quickly if heavier snow bands develop. I-90, US-87, US-89, US-191.
— North-central and eastern Montana plains: High Wind Watch beginning Thursday morning and continuing into Friday morning, with northwest winds 30 to 40 mph and gusts 55 to 65 mph possible. Difficult travel is likely for high-profile vehicles on open roads. I-94, US-2, US-87, US-191.
— Western Wyoming mountains, including the Absarokas, Yellowstone, the Tetons, and the Wyoming and Salt River ranges: Winter Weather Advisory beginning around midday through Thursday night with 5 to 12 inches above 7500 feet, 6 to 12 inches above 9000 feet in the Absarokas, local totals near 18 to 20 inches on the highest peaks and the Pitchstone Plateau, and wind gusts 30 to 70 mph. Mountain travel may become difficult to dangerous. US-14, US-16, US-20, US-89, US-191.
— Northeast Wyoming into western South Dakota: Red Flag Warning through late evening with gusts 45 to 55 mph and hot, dry, windy conditions. Rapid fire spread may create sudden smoke and route changes. I-90, US-14, US-16, US-85.
— East-central and southeast Wyoming: High Wind Warning beginning late this morning and continuing through Thursday evening, with winds 30 to 55 mph and gusts 60 to 80 mph. Dangerous crosswinds are likely for high-profile vehicles near Arlington, Elk Mountain, Bordeaux, the I-80 Summit, and along I-25. I-25, I-80, US-30, US-85, US-287.
— Western Colorado and eastern Utah, including the I-70 corridor, Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon, and Soldier Summit: Wind Advisory beginning late this morning through late evening, with winds 20 to 35 mph and gusts 50 to 55 mph. Hazardous crosswinds will affect high-profile vehicles on exposed routes. I-70, US-6, US-50, US-191, US-550.
— Colorado’s Front Range, eastern plains, and San Luis Valley: Red Flag Warning beginning late this morning and lasting through Thursday morning, with gusts 45 to 60 mph and very dry air. Any fire that starts may spread rapidly and smoke or firefighting activity could affect travel. I-25, I-70, I-76, US-50, US-285.
— The San Luis Valley in southern Colorado: High Wind Warning beginning around midday through late evening with winds 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. Hazardous crosswinds will affect travel across the valley floor. US-160, US-285.
— Northern Arizona high country, including Flagstaff Summit and the Navajo Nation: Wind Advisory beginning late this morning through late evening with winds 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50 mph. Hazardous crosswinds are likely on exposed plateau roads. I-17, I-40, US-89, US-160, US-191.
— Central and eastern New Mexico: Red Flag Warning beginning around midday through late evening with winds 15 to 30 mph and gusts 35 to 45 mph. Wildfire spread may accelerate quickly and could affect visibility or route choice. I-25, I-40, US-54, US-84, US-285.
— The Guadalupe Mountains of southeast New Mexico and west Texas: High Wind Watch beginning Thursday midday through Thursday night with winds 40 to 50 mph and gusts up to 70 mph possible. Very difficult crosswinds may force slower travel or rerouting on exposed mountain roads. US-62, US-180.
Weather Impacts Central:
— Western and southern North Dakota: Red Flag Warning beginning late this morning through late evening with gusts up to 40 mph. Rapid fire spread and intermittent smoke are possible on exposed routes. I-94, US-12, US-83, US-85, US-281.
— Minnesota and southeastern North Dakota: Red Flag Warning beginning around midday through late evening, with winds 15 to 25 mph and gusts 30 to 40 mph. Crosswinds and wildfire spread may both become concerns on open north-south routes. I-94, I-35, US-2, US-59, US-169.
— Southern North Dakota, South Dakota, central and western Nebraska, parts of eastern Colorado, , western Kansas, parts of central and western Oklahoma, and parts of central and northern Texas: A few severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into evening, with hail and isolated severe wind gusts most likely along the dryline and adjacent High Plains. Travel conditions may change quickly near stronger cells. I-27, I-35, I-70, I-80, US-287 potentially impacted.
— Far-eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, central and eastern Kansas, central and eastern Oklahoma, Iowa, much of Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, much of Illinois, northwest Arkansas, parts of central and northern Texas, and western Michigan Upper Peninsula: Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected Thursday with large hail to very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes possible. The greatest risk of severe weather will be across Iowa, southeast Nebraska, central and eastern Kansas, central and western Missouri, and southern Minnesota. I-35, I-70, I-80, I-90, I-94.
— South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa, and much of Nebraska: Red Flag Warning beginning late this morning through late evening with gusts 35 to 45 mph. Any fire that starts may spread quickly and smoke could alter local routing. I-29, I-90, US-12, US-81, US-20.
— The Nebraska Panhandle: High Wind Watch beginning Thursday morning through Thursday evening with west winds 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph possible. Hazardous crosswinds may affect open-country travel. I-80, US-26, US-30, US-385.
— Western Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles: Red Flag Warning beginning around midday through late evening with winds 20 to 30 mph and gusts around 40 mph. Fire danger is high enough that route changes or delays may be needed if roadside fires develop. I-40, I-27, US-50, US-56, US-287.
— Parts of southern Kansas, central and eastern Oklahoma, parts of central and northern Texas, much of Arkansas, central and southern Missouri, central and southern Illinois, central and southern Indiana, central and western Kentucky, central and western Tennessee, central and northern Mississippi, central and northern Louisiana, and central and northern Alabama: A few severe thunderstorms are possible Friday across the Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley, with large hail and damaging wind gusts the primary threats. The greatest risk of severe weather will be across much of Arkansas, central and eastern Oklahoma, parts of central and northern Texas, and southern Missouri. I-30, I-35, I-40, I-44, I-49.
— Southeast and south-central Texas: Dense Fog Advisory through late morning around the Houston area, with patchy dense fog farther west across south-central Texas through mid-morning and visibility locally down to one-quarter mile. Slow down and leave extra space on the road. I-10, I-35, I-37, I-45, I-69, I-35, US-290.
Weather Impacts Eastern:
— Central Ohio, central and northern Indiana, and parts of southern Michigan: A few severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon into evening, with hail and isolated severe wind gusts the main threats. Travel conditions may change quickly near stronger storms. I-69, I-70, I-71, I-75, I-90.
— Western and central North Carolina into southern and southeast Virginia: Dry air and gusty winds will raise wildfire spread risk through early evening, with gusts locally up to 30 mph in parts of North Carolina. I-40, I-77, I-81, I-85, I-95.
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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