A series of Pacific storms will dump heavy rain and high-elevation snow from Northern California through the Pacific Northwest, while a light snow/wintry mix brushes the Great Lakes to New England—raising risks of road closures, delays and air disruptions through Christmas. Unseasonably warm temps in the South may aid capacity repositioning but winds and flooding could impede port drayage in the West.
SIERRA SNOW SURGE LIKELY TO CLOSE DONNER PASS WINDOWS; CHAINS, DELAYS EXPECTED MIDWEEK
Forecasters say 2–4 feet of new snow (locally more) could arrive Wednesday–Friday with 100 mph ridge gusts, likely triggering chain controls and potential I‑80/US‑50 closures around Donner and Echo Summits—tightening Northern California capacity and extending transit times over the crest.
State officials said whiteout conditions and lake-effect bands continue to make roads dangerous; all commercial traffic remains banned on parts of I‑90/I‑190 in Western NY, with reassessments to follow as snow bands shift—disrupting Buffalo-area linehaul and final-mile operations.
Crews are sandbagging a Green River levee breach south of Seattle after days of heavy rain; evacuation warnings and detours could affect trucking moves serving Kent/Renton/Tukwila distribution hubs until waters recede and repairs hold.
WASHINGTON STATE HOLIDAY TOURISM HUBS REEL FROM STORM DAMAGE, ROAD CLOSURES—HIT TO SEASONAL FREIGHT
Storms, floods and power outages around Leavenworth and Stevens Pass shuttered attractions and disrupted U.S.‑2 access, dampening peak retail foot traffic and complicating deliveries to mountain communities during Christmas week.
LIGHT SNOW TUESDAY MAY SLICKEN CONNECTICUT LANES AS HOLIDAY TRAFFIC BUILDS, NWS WARNS
A quick 1–3 inches across interior CT could bring slick morning commutes and minor slowdowns on I‑84/I‑91—plan extra time for Northeast regional runs ahead of Christmas midweek peaks.
FMCSA EMERGENCY DECLARATION IN EFFECT FOR DE, NJ, NY, PA THROUGH DEC. 26 TO AID WINTER RESPONSE
A regional declaration continues limited hours-of-service relief for carriers providing direct assistance in affected Mid‑Atlantic states; fleets should verify eligibility and documentation before operating under the waiver.
The Surface Transportation Board acknowledged receipt of the UP‑NS filing and invited public input on whether the nearly 7,000‑page application meets regulatory requirements—marking the next step in a closely watched rail consolidation with trucking-competition implications.
UP, NORFOLK SOUTHERN FORMALLY FILE $85B TRANSCONTINENTAL RAIL MERGER; CRITICS CITE COMPETITION RISKS
The carriers argue end‑to‑end single‑line service will speed freight and compete with long‑haul trucking; rivals and unions warn of reduced competition and service risks as STB scrutiny begins under post‑2001 major‑merger rules.
Following a fatal crash of a similar aircraft at UPS, FedEx grounded MD‑11s, raising near‑term expense and forcing modal workarounds during the holiday surge—another reminder of tight peak capacity across modes.
UPS TOUTS 98.9% ON‑TIME CYBER WEEK PERFORMANCE, SAYS PEAK RELIABILITY REMAINS “EIGHT YEARS STRONG”
Citing ShipMatrix data, UPS claims industry‑leading service early in peak; shippers balancing parcel modal mix may see continued preference for high‑reliability lanes as weather threats intensify into Christmas week.
The Postal Bulletin reiterates 2025 cutoffs, with Priority Mail Express listed as the last pre‑Christmas option; parcel shippers now pivot to contingency planning and customer comms for late‑season deliveries amid weather-driven delays.
FMCSA NOTES BROAD MULTI‑STATE WINTER FUEL EMERGENCY BACKGROUND FOR HOURS‑OF‑SERVICE RELIEF
Agency documents recap nationwide winter fuel emergency actions enabling targeted HOS flexibility for heating fuel haulers across dozens of states—applicable only to direct assistance and subject to limits and expirations carriers must review.
Live updates show rapid toggling of chain controls near Donner Summit as waves of precip move through; eastbound truck screening and “maximum chains” requirements continue to pressure transit times between NorCal and Reno.
Meteorologists warn of sub‑quarter‑mile visibilities returning overnight across parts of southwest Louisiana, posing hazards for early‑morning truck traffic despite otherwise warm and dry Christmas‑week conditions.
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