Overview
- Temperatures surge into the 70s and locally 80s from Texas to the Gulf Coast through Christmas, with Houston forecasts noting near-record warmth, higher humidity and recurring morning fog.
- New Orleans and the central Gulf Coast hold about a 30% chance of light, scattered showers Sunday as a weak front washes out, then stay mainly dry with highs in the low to mid 70s into the holiday.
- The Ohio Valley and Plains turn unseasonably mild, with forecasts calling for 60s on Christmas in places such as Cincinnati, Louisville and Omaha, where record warmth is possible.
- Northern markets see more variability: New England turns colder Monday, then a Tuesday system could bring snow or a wintry mix for some areas, with track and amounts still uncertain.
- Breezy to windy spells accompany the pattern change in several regions, including gusts up to 30–35 mph in Maine on Sunday, while most areas remain largely dry and any broader cooldown looks more likely after Christmas with lower confidence.