If the central and eastern regions of the United States 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 winter weather system which is forecast to bring significant amounts of snow to parts of the region.
Travel Alert January 2023: Winter Storm to Affect Central and Eastern United States
The following statement is currently posted at the official Internet web site of the National Weather Service of the United States:
Multi-Hazard Storm Poised To Impact The Central And Southern U.S.
A multi-hazard winter storm is expected to intensify over the central Plains today and progress downstream toward the Great Lakes on Thursday. A swath of heavy snow and a transition zone of a wintry mix is expected from the central Plains to the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Ohio Valley.
The map of the United States from the National Weather Service indicates that winter storm warnings, winter weather advisories, winter storm watches, and dense fog advisories have been issued from northeastern Colorado to southeastern Maine.
Although snow is expected to fall from western Colorado and northern New Mexico all the way to southeastern Ontario and extreme northwestern New York, the accumulation of up to 28 inches of snow is possible in central Nebraska.
177 incoming flights and 142 outgoing flights were canceled at Denver International Airport for today only, Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
Interstate 70 is currently closed in Colorado, according to this messages from the official Twitter account of the Colorado State Patrol — and when this major stretch of highway will open again to traffic is unknown at the time this article was written.
I 70 is still shut down for safety reasons. Unknown timeframe when it will reopen. Troopers on scene believe it will take until morning to clear crash. Alternate routes not encouraged in the area because they will still be dangerous due to high winds and slick roads. pic.twitter.com/Z5ZrNv3lvk
— Colorado State Patrol (@CSP_News) January 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/ColoradoDOT/status/1615444411902742528
The snow — as well as ice and thunderstorms — will eventually move into the northeastern United States later this week — but southern areas of the United States are expected to experience thunderstorms. Although travel waivers have not officially been issued by airlines for the southern United States, expect delays and cancellations of flights in this region as well.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the central and eastern regions of the United States 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:
- 35 airports in eight states for Thursday, January 19, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023; and Monday, January 23, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 18 airports in six states for Tuesday, January 17, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023; and Sunday, January 22, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
- 27 airports in six states in the central and midwestern regions of the United States for Wednesday, January 18, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023; and Monday, January 23, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Colorado Springs and Denver for Wednesday, January 18, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023; and Monday, January 23, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 29 airports in six states in the central United States for Tuesday, January 17, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023; and Sunday, January 22, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 24 airports in seven states in the midwestern United States for Thursday, January 19, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023; and Monday, January 23, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Seven airports in four states in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States for Tuesday, January 17, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023; and Thursday, February 2, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Nine airports in seven states in the midwestern United States for Thursday, January 19, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023; and Friday, February 3, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for seven airports in seven states in the midwestern region of the United States for Tuesday, January 17, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023; and Sunday, January 22, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Five airports in four states in the central United States for Monday, January 16, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023.
- Eleven airports in seven states in the midwestern United States for Tuesday, January 17, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued a travel alert for Eau Claire for Wednesday, January 18, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023; and Thursday, January 26, 2023 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
- Three airports in Montréal and Toronto for Thursday, January 19, 2023.
- Denver for Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
- WestJet Airways has issued travel alerts for Hamilton and Toronto for Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Final Boarding Call
Do not be surprised if additional airlines issue more travel alerts in the coming days.
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 ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
