National Overview — Sunday, October 26, 2025

A Pacific storm keeps the Northwest unsettled with hazardous mountain snow, gusty coastal winds, and high surf. A separate system will trigger showers and thunderstorms from the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Southeast, with the central Gulf Coast at greatest risk for flooding rains later today into tonight. Elsewhere, most corridors remain dry with seasonable to cool temperatures in the East and milder conditions across the southern tier and the West.

Hotspot 1: Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies

Areas: WA/OR Cascades; ID/MT/WY high terrain

What to expect:

Heavy, hazardous mountain snow today and tonight with rates of 1–2 inches per hour.
Snow levels falling to roughly 3,500–5,000 ft.
Challenging travel over higher passes including:
- I-90: Snoqualmie Pass (WA) and Lookout Pass (ID/MT)
- I-84: Blue Mountains (OR)
- I-15: Monida Pass area (ID/MT)
Gusty coastal winds and high surf along the Pacific Northwest coast.

Driver impacts and logistics notes:

Expect rapid deterioration of road conditions near and above pass level; plan for chain-up delays and reduced speeds.
Stagger mountain crossings for daylight hours where possible and pad schedules for winter operations.
Stage heavier north–south freight along lower-elevation corridors; hold nonessential high-profile coastal moves due to gusty winds and surf impacts.
Confirm chain requirements and traction advisories before ascending passes; keep fuel tanks topped off and allow extra braking distance.

Hotspot 2: Central Gulf Coast

Areas: Coastal MS/AL and the far western FL Panhandle

What to expect:

Increasing thunderstorms with torrential rain this afternoon and tonight.
Scattered flash flooding possible, highest impacts along the I-10 corridor from New Orleans–Biloxi–Mobile to Pensacola, and on I-12 around the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain.
Brief severe storms capable of damaging wind gusts or an isolated tornado.

Driver impacts and logistics notes:

Anticipate water-covered lanes, rapid ponding, and reduced visibility; slow down and avoid low-lying underpasses and frontage roads prone to flooding.
Build extra transit time for I-10/I-12 runs; consider staging outside the heaviest convective windows when feasible.
Maintain communications for quick reroutes around flooded segments; have sheltering options for brief severe weather or tornado warnings.

Hotspot 3: Florida Atlantic Coast

Areas: I-95 corridor Miami–Ft. Lauderdale–Palm Beach–Space Coast–Jacksonville

What to expect:

Rounds of thunderstorms with downpours, especially this afternoon and evening.
Ponding on highways and brief urban delays along I-95 and major arterials.

Driver impacts and logistics notes:

Plan for short-notice slowdowns; increase following distance and watch for hydroplaning during heavier bursts.
Adjust delivery windows in dense urban zones where drainage is poor; avoid curbside stops during peak downpours.

Elsewhere

Most other regions stay dry. Expect seasonable to cool temperatures across the East and milder conditions across the southern tier and the West, favoring normal operations.

Safety Tip of the Day

When precipitation transitions to heavy snow on mountain approaches, verify your traction setup before the grade, not on it. Stop on level ground to install chains, clean lights and sensors, and brief the route plan with dispatch so you can focus on controlled speed, longer following distance, and smooth braking on the climb and descent.

Likely sources: National Weather Service, Weather Prediction Center, local NWS offices, state Departments of Transportation, The Weather Channel.

This weather briefing was prepared exclusively for truckstopinsider.com.