Heavy Storms Could Impact Holiday Travel

By Todd Richissin (Patch National Staff)

A giant storm system is now gathering, and forecasters said it could wallop an area from the midwest to the Eastern Seaboard with heavy rains and wind gusts of 50 mph just in time for holiday travel.

While the storm is not expected to bring heavy snow to northern regions as winter storm Cato did for Thanksgiving, delays in air travel and flooding are expected, according to Weather.com, which called the potential for the storm “very serious.”

Tampa International Airport reported no major delays into or out of the Bay area as of Monday morning, but forecasters say that could all change as weather conditions deteriorate across the east coast into Christmas Eve.

The Tampa Bay area is not in the clear as far as bad weather is concerned either. The National Weather Service is calling for strong chances for storms through Christmas Eve and has issued a hazardous weather outlook report as a result. Rain is expected to move into the area Monday.

See Also:

How To Check For Holiday Flight Delays in Tampa Bay

Storms on Tuesday and Wednesday may bring locally heavy rains and the potential for lightning and high winds. Storm chances are highest on Wednesday, but forecasters anticipate conditions to improve in time for a sunny Christmas Day with a high temperature in the mid-60s.

As the cold front moves through, holiday travelers should check with their airlines for any potential delays.

For a complete look at Tampa Bay weather, visit the National Weather Service online.

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