Winter Weather Warnings Issued as 10 Inches of Snow Expected to Disrupt Holiday Travel

On Christmas Day, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced winter weather warnings and winter storm advisories in more than a dozen states, with some expecting up to 10 inches of snow during peak Christmas travel.

Travel is expected to be busy for the holiday through Jan. 1, 2026, with AAA projecting 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday period. That number is a 2.2% increase from 2024, surpassing the previous record of 119.7 million travelers.

The NWA issued winter storm warnings for areas of Idaho and California on Christmas morning, and they also issued advisories for areas of the Midwest and Northeast.

Winter Storm Warnings in the U.S. on Christmas Weekend

According to the NWS, a winter storm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. PST on Friday, Dec. 26, for a large swath of central California. Forecasters warn that this storm will bring heavy snow, with up to five feet in central California and up to six feet in Yosemite outside the valley. Don't travel during these storms, as meteorologists say these conditions are expected to make travel "very difficult to impossible."

Also, a winter storm warning is in effect for Idaho in the the Sun Valley region and the Big Lost Highlands and Copper Basin area until 5 p.m. MST on Christmas Day. Again, heavy snow is expected, with anywhere from five inches to a foot in the highest elevation areas.

Winter Weather Advisories for the Rest of the U.S.

Elsewhere, meteorologists say a winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast on Friday, Dec. 26, bringing up to 10 inches of snow right as travelers start to head home from their destinations. According to the NWS, states impacted include Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, with the majority of the areas expected to get between four to eight inches of snow. The NWS's advisory begins at 4 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 26, and runs through 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, according to the service.

"As always, I urge New Yorkers to monitor their local forecast, and text their county or borough name to our weather and emergency alerts system. Stay vigilant, drive slow if you need to travel and have a safe holiday weekend," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.

A winter weather advisory is also impacting the Midwest. Even though the area has warmer weather on Christmas Day, cooler weather is expected to come in and cause travel issues.

"Widespread freezing rain expected late tonight through early to mid afternoon Friday, possibly mixing with rain across southwest Michigan" the NWS in Grand Rapids, Mich., said in a statement. "A glaze of ice is likely areawide with the potential for some to see up to 0.25" of ice. Plan for hazardous travel Friday due to icy roads."

"Be prepared for slick conditions if walking outdoors or driving. Plan ahead and give yourself extra time for travel," adding the NWS in Detroit, referring to a winter weather advisory running Friday from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.