Wild weather threatens millions of holiday travelers

From the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf Coast, winter weather is threatening travel plans for millions trying to get home for the holidays.

Parts of Colorado are bracing for up to two feet of snow Monday morning. Forecasters say snowfall rates could hit 2 to 3 inches an hour at times. That, combined with wind gusts over 75 mph in some spots, will cause whiteout conditions on roads on Monday.

The storm, fueled by moisture from the Pacific Northwest, moved in Sunday morning and the snow is expected to continue through the evening.

Danielle Niles of Boston station WBZ reports that blizzard warnings and high-wind watches are in effect in parts of Colorado and Utah.

Niles reports that the energy from this storm will move down to the southern Plains, bringing the potential for heavy thunderstorms. The threat for severe weather is highest along the Gulf Coast states - from New Orleans to Mobile to Tallahassee. The region could see large hail, torrential rain and damaging wind - even an isolated tornado is possible.

The storm will then heap up the Eastern Seaboard Tuesday and Wednesday, with heavy rain and wind in the forecast for Christmas Eve. The rains could change to snow for parts of the Northeast and could disrupt airport travel Wednesday and Thursday morning.