Ice, Snow, Severe Storms Expected to Derail Christmas Travel

Forecasters even warn of tornadoes in the South

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Seth Wenig / AP

Travelers at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on Nov. 26, 2013.

Travelers heading home for the holidays may expect longer delays than usual as a clash of severe weather spans from Texas to New England, producing snow, icy conditions, torrential downpours and possibly tornadoes.

The storm comes during one of the busiest weekends for both traveling and holiday shopping, affecting flights out of major Midwest airports, the Associated Press reports. Snow is expected to muck up travel from northwest Texas and Oklahoma to Kansas and northern Michigan through Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the Great Plains and Midwest saw icy conditions, and snow and freezing rain is expected to follow Saturday.

A low-pressure system will bring torrential rain, thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, while 13 states are under flood watches and warnings.

A surge of warm air, however, has left temperatures in parts of New York and Philadelphia in the upper 60s and low 70s. But the East Coast is bracing for an ice storm to follow Saturday night.

[AP]