rain puddle leaves
Photograph ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
Brian Cohen·
Weather
··4 min read

Travel Alert January 2023: Severe Weather Impacts California

One airport has been closed due to the weather.

If California is in your travel plans over the next few 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 severe weather which has been blamed for the deaths of at least three people.

Travel Alert January 2023: Severe Weather Impacts California

All orders for evacuation and staying in place have finally been canceled in Santa Barbara County, where the airport had been closed due to issues with its infrastructure that was caused by the weather — but Santa Barbara Airport has started to resume operations in stages:

The Santa Barbara Airport began a phased reopening today (Tuesday 1/10) at 3:20 PM. All commercial airlines have been notified and will be working to restore service to and from SBA as soon as possible. Please check with airlines directly regarding flight status. The terminal and all parking lots are open.

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

More Wet Weather For Northern California; Strong Storms Possible The Next Couple Of Days

The endless stream of atmospheric river events will re-focus on Wednesday across northern California. Once again, heavy to excessive rain on already saturated ground may produce more flooding. Also, snow will remain in the forecast for the northern California mountains and parts of the Sierra. Meanwhile, strong to severe storms are possible the next couple of days in the South and Mid South.

The map of the United States from the National Weather Service indicates that flash flood warnings, flood watches, high wind warnings, wind advisories, and winter storm warnings have been issued for much of the state of California.

January 10 2023
Source: National Weather Service of the United States.

Record snowfall of as much as 20 feet has been reported above the elevation of 6,500 feet all along the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Ironically, the state of California is officially under both a flood emergency and a drought emergency.

Tehama County was officially declared as a disaster area; while at one point, almost 33 percent of electricity customers in San Benito County have been without electrical power.

Widespread major flooding which can potentially threaten lives, mud slides, sinkholes, rock slides, electrical power outages, damage to trees, closures of roads, and disruption of travel have all occurred in the affected areas of California — as risks of avalanches and the failure of dams is still possible. Major roadways throughout the state are closed due to mud and debris or from simply being washed out and away.

Social media channels are abuzz with photographs, videos, and stories and experiences which have been associated with this historic storm system.

See also

https://twitter.com/CoachDragge/status/1612824976897212418

Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations

If you are traveling to, from, or within California over the next few days or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to these 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 four airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of these weather systems:

  • American Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
  • United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
    • Santa Barbara for Monday, January 9, 2023 through Wednesday, January 11, 2023; and Sunday, January 15, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
    • Fresno, Redding, San Jose, Sacramento, and San Francisco for Wednesday, January 4, 2023 through Wednesday, January 11, 2023; and Sunday, January 15, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
    • Six airports in southern California for Tuesday, January 10, 2023 through Wednesday, January 11, 2023; and Wednesday, January 25, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
    • Five airports in northern California for Sunday, January 8, 2023 through Tuesday, January 10, 2023; and Tuesday, January 24, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for Sacramento and San Francisco for Monday, January 9, 2023 through Wednesday, January 11, 2023; and Sunday, January 15, 2023 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 additional storms are expected to continue the onslaught on California.

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 ©2019 by Brian Cohen.

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