Due to the latest weather system, consider ensuring that you have alternate travel plans ready to be implemented because of a major winter storm that is affecting the southern United States January 2025 as frigid air descends on this region of the country.
Major Winter Storm to Affect Southern United States: January 2025 Travel Alert
The following statement is currently posted at the official Internet web site of the National Weather Service of the United States:
Winter Storm to Impact the Southern U.S.
A winter storm is expected to bring snow from southeast Oklahoma through western North Carolina through Saturday. Snow will transition to sleet and freezing rain across the ArkLaTex through the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic.
The map of the United States from the National Weather Service currently indicates winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories from southwestern New Mexico all the way to southern Virginia. Cold weather advisories have also been issued as arctic air settles in on the southern United States. Freeze warnings and frost advisories have been issued as far south as southern Texas and central Florida.
The aforementioned loop shows that snowfall will be likely to occur through Sunday, January 12, 2025 from southeastern Arizona all the way to eastern North Carolina and north into Michigan and New Brunswick in Canada; while ice and sleet is likely from central Texas all the way to southern Virginia. Snow is forecast from much of Arizona all the way to South Carolina; while significant amounts of rain are likely in southern Texas all the way to northern Florida to southern North Carolina. Flooding may occur between Houston and Pensacola. People in western New York, northwestern Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio, and western Michigan are expected to experience as much as twelve inches of lake effect snow.
As much as 12 inches of snow could accumulate in an area that comprises of northern Arkansas, eastern central Oklahoma, extreme southeastern Missouri, and extreme western Tennessee. Expect travel conditions to be substantially difficult; and expect outages of electrical power.
This winter storm system will continue eastward before potentially causing havoc in areas of the northeastern United States.
The governors of some states are taking action to help minimize the effects of the winter storm:
- Brian R. Kemp declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Georgia effective immediately through Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Shelves are being emptied in supermarkets throughout the state as people stock up while being confined indoors.
- Meanwhile, Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate state emergency response resources ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall in East and Southeast Texas beginning today, Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the southeastern United States over the next few 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 13 airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 50 airports in eleven states for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Sunday, January 12, 2025; and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
- 13 airports in five states for Friday, January 10, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025; and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin
- Nine airports in five states for Thursday, January 9, 2025; and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 15 airports in seven states for Friday, January 10, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025; and Friday, January 17, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Ten airports in seven states for Thursday, January 9, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025; and Thursday, January 16, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Alaska Airlines has issued travel alerts for Atlanta and both airports which serve the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025; and Monday, January 13, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Atlanta, Dallas, and Nashville for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025; and Saturday, January 25, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Twelve airports in six states for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025; and Friday, January 24, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for nine airports in six states for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025; and Saturday, January 18, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Seven airports in four states for Wedneday, January 8, 2025 through Friday, January 9, 2025
- Ten airports in four states for Thursday, January 9, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025
- Spirit Airlines has issued travel alerts for nine airports in five states for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025; and Thursday, January 16, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Breeze Airways has issued travel alerts for 37 airports in 23 states for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Sunday, January 12, 2025.
- Allegiant Air has issued travel alerts for nine airports in four states for Friday, January 9, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
- Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville for Friday, January 10, 2025
- Dallas for Thursday, January 9, 2025 through Friday, January 10, 2025
- Aeromexico has issued travel alerts for:
- Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham for Friday, January 10, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025; and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin
- Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth for Thursday, January 9, 2025; and Monday, January 13, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 13 airports in five states for Friday, January 10, 2025 through Saturday, January 11, 2025; and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin
- Nine airports in five states for Thursday, January 9, 2025; and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin
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 northeast.
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 ©2011 by Brian Cohen.
