Due to the latest winter weather system which has resulted in a central United States winter storm February 2023, consider ensuring that you have alternate plans ready to be implemented in case your travels are adversely affected.
Central United States Winter Storm: February 2023 Travel Alert
The following statement is currently posted at the official Internet web site of the National Weather Service of the United States:
Strong Winter Storm Across the Center of the Nation; Flooding Potential Increases for Hawaii
A strong storm will track across the southern Plains to the Great Lakes through Thursday. A ribbon of heavy snow is forecast to stretch from the central High Plains into the Great Lakes region. A narrow corridor of sleet and freezing rain from northern Missouri, northern Illinois to southeast lower Michigan. Severe thunderstorms are expected from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley.
The map of the United States from the National Weather Service indicates that winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories have been issued from eastern Utah all the way to central Michigan — but southeastern Ontario and southwestern Québec will also be affected.
Accumulation of up to as much as 40 inches of snow is expected in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The general swath of snow is expected to stretch from southeastern Arizona all the way to southwestern Québec.
Meanwhile, much of the southeastern United States is forecast to be receiving significant precipitation with steady rain, with some areas experiencing thunderstorms and severe weather. Travel will be affected accordingly.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the central United States over the next couple of days or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to this winter weather system which may adversely affect your travel plans. Better yet, postponing or canceling your trip might be a better option — no matter which mode of travel you plan on taking.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary.
Here are seven airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 28 airports in ten states for Wednesday, February 15, 2023 through Friday, February 17, 2023; and Tuesday, February 21, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 14 airports in six states in the central United States for Thursday, February 16, 2023 through Friday, February 17, 2023; and Monday, February 20, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 21 airports in five states in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States for Wednesday, February 15, 2023 through Thursday, February 16, 2023; and Monday, February 20, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Nine airports in seven states in the central United States for Wednesday, February 15, 2023 through Friday, February 17, 2023; and Friday, March 3, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Colorado Springs, Denver, Montrose-Telluride, and Steamboat Springs-Hayden for Tuesday, February 14, 2023 through Wednesday, February 15, 2023; and Wednesday, March 1, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for Denver and Steamboat Springs for Tuesday, February 14, 2023 through Wednesday, February 15, 2023; and Saturday, February 18, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued a travel alert for Denver for Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
- Spirit Airlines has issued travel alerts for Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, and Milwaukee for Thursday, February 16, 2023 through Friday, February 17, 2023; and Tuesday, February 21, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
Final Boarding Call
Do not be surprised to see additional airlines issue travel waivers — as well as existing travel waivers being extended — as this winter weather system progresses towards the east.
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
Photograph ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
