FOUR MILLION under winter weather alerts as Storm Eboni blows through the country with near-blizzard conditions as America returns to the roads after Christmas
- A storm will push from the West Coast to the central US bringing heavy rain, strong winds and snow on Wednesday
- It could last until Friday in the Midwest and Plains, with snowfall up to 12 inches
- 4 million people traveling after Christmas could be affected by the weather
- 12 million people in the South are at slight risk of being affected by snow
Four million people in the United States could be affected by a snowstorm as hazardous weather conditions make their way across the country this week following the Christmas break.
The Great Plains and Midwest are set to suffer most as strong winds, heavy rain and thick snowfall moves from the West Coast on Wednesday.
Near-blizzard conditions were possible in the North and South Dakotas as winter Storm Eboni caused travel conditions to worsen with low visibility due to blowing snow.
It’s expected to last until Friday with western Nebraska and eastern Colorado also receiving 8-12 inches of the white stuff and the direction pivoting into northern New England as millions head back to work.
Salt Lake City, Utah got a White Christmas on Tuesday with Storm Eboni
South Jordan (left) and Salt Lake City (right) in Utah were affected already by Wednesday
A storm will push from the West Coast to the central US bringing heavy rain, strong winds and snow on Wednesday
In the Midwest and Plains there could be snowfall up to 12 inches this week after Christmas
There was a chance northern New York could be hit by a mix of rain and snow by Friday but the Rockies and the High Plains were particularly troublesome travel areas to watch out for, according to the National Weather Service.
Up to a foot could seriously disrupt the travel plans of the estimated 112.5 million Americans traveling at this time of year.
The height was reached over the Sierra on Tuesday as winds increased and dropped swaths of ice in the area.
Storms watches and advisories remained around the worst of the warnings on Wednesday morning.
The weather condition were blowing in from the West Coast. Pictured is Big Bear, California
4 million people traveling after Christmas could be affected by the weather in the center of the country
12 million people in the South are at slight risk of being affected by a snowstorm
Watches were in effect in eastern Nebraska and northeastward to northern Minnesota, plus the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The National Weather Service also indicated dangerous travel conditions in southern Colorado northeastward to western Minnesota where warnings were issued.
The South of the country showed an even larger number possibly dealing with dangerous travel conditions – 12 million could be affected by severe storms from Wednesday but the risk was only small.
But a white Christmas dangerous turned into dangerous weather conditions in Salt Lake City
Large hail, strong gusts and isolated tornados could tear through the South
The National Weather Service also indicated dangerous travel conditions in southern Colorado northeastward to western Minnesota
Large hail, strong gusts and isolated tornados could tear through that part of the country in the afternoon and evening.
The number of people traveling is up 4.4 percent for 2018 – a record increase according to the American Automobile Association.
A whopping 102.1 million people will be driving in a car from that number, approximately 6.7 million were believed to be traveling via an aircraft and the remainder on buses or boats.
Idaho was covered in the white stuff on Christmas week as many travelers headed back to work
The number of people traveling is up 4.4 percent for 2018 – a record increase according to the American Automobile Association
A whopping 102.1 million people will be driving in a car from that number, approximately 6.7 million were believed to be traveling via an aircraft and the remainder on buses or boats