If the north central United States — which includes the Rocky Mountains, northern plains, and upper Midwest regions — and southern central 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 the region.
Travel Alert December 2022: More Airlines Issue Travel Waivers For Major Winter Storm
Although up to 40 inches — that is actually greater than three feet — of snow is expected to fall in local areas between the greater metropolitan areas of Bismarck and Rapid City, snow is forecast through Thursday, December 15, 2022 from northern New Mexico all the way to central Saskatchewan and central Manitoba and from extreme northeastern Nevada all the way to central Michigan.
Ok #WesternNebraska, we are in line for a severe #WinterStorm this week so let’s be ready for it. Snow will start tomorrow night and will continue into Wednesday/Thursday. The winds will be the most dangerous part driving snow across roads and dropping windchills dangerously low. pic.twitter.com/TIWFQpfl0R
— NSP Troop E (@NSP_TroopE) December 11, 2022
Blizzard warnings are already in effect for western Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, western South Dakota, southeastern Montana, eastern Wyoming, and extreme northwestern Kansas. Additionally, winter storm warnings were issues by the National Weather Service for a significant portion of the northern plains region; while winter storm watches extended into parts of the upper midwest region.
Here's the latest update for the ongoing winter storm. We'll continue to see periods of light to moderate snow, then drizzle and freezing drizzle into Wednesday. This will continue to produce difficult travel conditions, with poor visibilities and slick roads. #SDwx #MNwx pic.twitter.com/H80bYzsKNL
— NWS Aberdeen (@NWSAberdeen) December 13, 2022
#GOESWest is continuing to monitor a strong winter storm that has pummeled parts the Intermountain West with heavy #snow. #Blizzard Warnings and #WinterStorm Warnings are in effect for much of the northern Plains as the storm moves eastward.
Latest: https://t.co/wJGBXDcfEu pic.twitter.com/lWNse9YHEM
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) December 12, 2022
Snow is not the only issue with this winter storm: ice is expected to blanket the region from central Nebraska to central Wisconsin and from central Iowa to central Minnesota and southeastern North Dakota, with the most significant accumulation of ice — up to three quarters of an inch in thickness — expected to occur from Fargo to south of Sioux Falls and west of Rochester in Minnesota. Snowfall rates could reach several inches per hour of accumulation.
Additionally, strong winds are possible and will likely cause blizzard conditions in some of the aforementioned areas, where high temperatures are expected to be limited to the upper 20s to low 30s Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile, rain and thunderstorms are forecast from eastern Nebraska and extreme southwestern Wisconsin south to the Gulf Coast of the United States from eastern Texas to extreme western Alabama. Most of Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and southwestern Mississippi are at risk of experiencing severe weather. Tornado watches have been issued for portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
Electrical power outages are likely to occur in portions of all of the aforementioned regions which 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 north central United States and southern central 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 five airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Dallas for Tuesday, December 13, 2022; and Thursday, December 15, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for 15 airports in five states for Monday, December 12, 2022 through Tuesday, December 13, 2022; and Friday, December 16, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for 34 airports in seven states for Monday, December 12, 2022 through Thursday, December 15, 2022; and Thursday, December 22, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for Denver and Salt Lake City for Monday, December 12, 2022 through Tuesday, December 13, 2022; and Friday, December 16, 2022 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
- Deer Lake, Minneapolis, Moncton, St. John’s, and Sydney for Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
- Toronto for Thursday, December 15, 2022 through Friday, December 16, 2022.
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.
Photograph ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
