If the western United States and southwestern Canada are in your travel plans over the next few of days or so, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — due to the latest major winter weather system which is forecast to bring significant amounts of snow to parts of the region.
Travel Alert December 2022: Major Winter Storm to Impact Western United States
Although up to 36 inches — that is three feet — of snow is expected to fall in the Cascade mountain range in the state of Washington and portions of southwestern Montana, northwestern Wyoming, northern Utah, and northern Colorado, snow is forecast through tomorrow, Tuesday, December 20, 2022 from southwestern British Columbia to central Oregon; and in portions of through Wednesday, December 21, 2022 all the way to Indiana.
Snow is not the only issue with this winter storm: ice is expected to blanket the region from northwestern Washington state to southwestern Oregon to southeastern Washington state, with the most significant accumulation of ice expected to occur along Interstate 5 and the border which the states of Washington and Oregon share.
Meanwhile, strong winds are possible from southern North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico and will likely cause blizzard conditions in some of the aforementioned areas of the northern United States, where high temperatures are expected to plummet as much as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, as bitterly cold Arctic air will descend past the northern plains states with temperatures as low as 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in some areas.
Electrical power outages are predicted in many areas that will be affected by this major winter storm.
Expect flights to be delayed or canceled as a result of this winter weather event.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the western United States and southwestern Canada over the next few 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 eight airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 28 airports in eight states for Wednesday, December 21, 2022 through Friday, December 23, 2022; and Friday, December 30, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for Portland and Seattle for Tuesday, December 20, 2022 through Thursday, December 22, 2022; and Sunday, December 25, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for 28 airports in ten states for Wednesday, December 21, 2022 through Friday, December 23, 2022; and Friday, December 30, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Alaska Airlines has issued a travel alert for Seattle for Tuesday, December 20, 2022; and Tuesday, December 27, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for twelve airports in nine states for Wednesday, December 21, 2022 through Friday, December 23, 2022; and Friday, January 6, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued travel alerts for Portland and Seattle for Tuesday, December 20, 2022 through Thursday, December 22, 2022; and Thursday, December 29, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued a travel alert for Vancouver for Monday, December 19, 2022 through Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
- WestJet Airways has issued travel alerts for five airports in British Columbia for Monday, December 19, 2022 through Saturday, December 24, 2022.
Final Boarding Call
Do not be surprised if additional travel waivers are issued by more airlines due to this winter weather system as it progresses — especially as it heads towards the midwestern United States, northeastern United States, and southeastern Canada.
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.
