Fallen snowman
Photograph ©2010 by Brian Cohen.
Brian Cohen·
Weather
··8 min read

Travel Alert December 2022: “Historic” Winter Weather System to Cripple Travel

This winter event is being called “once in a generation”.

Winter officially began with a vengeance earlier today, Wednesday, December 21, 2022, as a minimum of 200 airports in at least 45 states of the United States and eight provinces in Canada are being affected by the latest winter weather systems for this holiday week and weekend — meaning that you may want to consider delaying your travel; or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather, as greater than 1,000 flights have already been canceled.

Travel Alert December 2022: “Historic” Winter Weather System to Cripple Travel

The following dire warning is currently posted at the official Internet web site of the National Weather Service of the United States:

Dangerous Arctic Outbreak To Impact Much Of The Lower 48

An extremely dangerous Arctic blast will impact much of the Lower 48 over the next several days with frigid temperatures and life-threatening wind chills. Wind chill warnings, watches and advisories currently extend from the Interior Northwest and northern Rockies to the Gulf Coast states. In addition to the Arctic surge, a winter storm will develop on Thursday and produce a swath of heavy snow.

The map of the United States from the National Weather Service indicates that many warnings — such as freeze warnings, high wind warnings, blizzard warnings, wind chill warnings, winter storm warnings, gale warnings, and hard freeze warnings — as well as a plethora of advisories have been issued for many areas of the country.

a map of the united states
Click on the graphic for an enlarged view. Source: National Weather Service of the United States.

Winter weather will be experienced from British Columbia to Newfoundland and as far south as northeastern Mexico. Snow is forecast to accumulate as far south as northern New Mexico, western North Carolina, and northern Georgia, with as much as 48 inches — yes, that is four feet — of accumulation of snow possible in northern Michigan.

Blizzard conditions could occur from central Kansas all the way to the entire state of Michigan. The National Weather Service office in Omaha issued the definition of what is a blizzard.

Snow is not the only issue with this winter storm: ice is expected to blanket many portions of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada as frigid air may potentially dip as far south as northern Florida. For example, the low temperature in Atlanta tomorrow, Thursday, December 22, 2022 is forecast to be only six degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures in some areas could plummet by as much as 60 degrees Fahrenheit within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, rain and thunderstorms are forecast from Boston along the east coast of the United States all the way to Florida. Minor coastal flooding and beach erosion may occur as a result; and flood advisories have already been issued by the National Weather Service.

Additionally, strong winds of as much as 80 miles per hour are possible from northern Texas to the Great Lakes region; and will likely cause blizzard conditions in some of the aforementioned areas as far south as Saint Louis.

Electrical power outages are predicted in many areas that will be affected by this major winter storm.

Expect additional flights to be delayed or canceled as a result of this winter weather event; and expect roads and highways to be closed or impassable.

Meanwhile, examples of how this winter event will be affecting people around the United States have been posted on various channels of social media.

Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations

If you are traveling to, from, or within much of the United States and Canada over the next week or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to these winter weather systems 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 16 airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of these weather systems:

Final Boarding Call

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…

…or better yet: do not travel at all if possible, as this is an extremely serious situation. Stay home and weather this inclement weather out…

Photograph ©2010 by Brian Cohen.

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