Storm warnings have been posted for much of the United States over the next several days – threatening to disrupt Christmas holiday travel plans for millions of people.

A huge winter storm that dumped almost two meters of snow in California was heading eastward through the Midwest and was expected to hit the heavily populated Northeast by the end of the week. High winds, rain and snow associated with the storm were threatening to delay flights at busy airports in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.

In the South, forecasters warned of possible tornadoes – quite unusual for this time of the year. Severe thunderstorms also were expected throughout that region.

More than 85 million Americans are expected to travel at least 80 kilometers away from home for the holidays. The American Automobile Association said most of that travel will be on the roads.

In some areas of the U.S. that normally have significant snow for Christmas, there has not been much. In the far northern city of Buffalo, New York, for example, there is less than 15 centimeters of snow on the ground. Typically, the area would have at least twice that much by now.