Approximately 60 million Americans are under weather alerts this Christmas period due to impending sleet and heavy snow. This wintry weather arrives as many travel home after the holidays.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for parts of New York, including Broome and Delaware counties, effective from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. Neighboring areas are under a winter weather advisory.

Significant snowfall is forecast for a broad region. New York City, Long Island, Pennsylvania, and New England could see three to six inches of snow. Southwestern New York and northeastern Pennsylvania may receive a foot or more.

Meteorologist Bernie Rayno notes accumulating, plowable snow is highly likely for New York City from late Friday to early Saturday. Highs will only reach the mid-20s on Friday, dipping into the teens overnight.

Temperatures may climb slightly into the high 20s by Saturday. However, this brings a risk of rain transitioning into freezing rain by Sunday, complicating the forecast further.

The severe weather poses major travel disruptions. Key airports like LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, and JFK are under severe weather warnings during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Travelers are advised to exercise caution. Given the conditions, postponing travel until after the new year may be the safest option for those able to do so.