Wet and white Christmas expected for U.S.

SEATTLE, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- West Michigan and much of the western United States were under winter weather advisories on Christmas Eve, the National Weather Service reported.

Precipitation was moving across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Northern California and the Northeast.

More snow was expected in the Seattle area while New York City was in for a rainy commute and a wet Christmas.

Seattle was beginning to thaw out from heavy snowfall, which was raising the fear of localized flooding and the possibility of roof collapses as snow becomes saturated with rain. Forecasters told the Seattle Times the flood risk was not as bad as it could have been since chilly temperatures were keeping the snow melt gradual.

Air traffic in Seattle was getting back to normal, but the Federal Aviation Administration reported airport delays in San Francisco, New York and Chicago. More than 100 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport, where the Chicago Tribune said about 500 people spent Tuesday night on cots in the terminals.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer said roads all over the Midwest were icy while the Denver Post said Colorado skiers were looking forward to fresh snow in the mountains.