Due to the latest weather system, consider ensuring that you have alternate travel plans ready to be implemented because a winter storm to affect the central United States January 2024 — which includes the Rocky Mountain region and the midwestern United States.
Winter Storm to Affect Central United States: January 2024 Travel Alert
The following statement is currently posted at the official Internet web site of the National Weather Service of the United States:
Winter Storms in the Northeast, the Western U.S., and Portions of Alaska
A winter storm continues to produce heavy snow, strong winds and minor coastal flooding in the Northeast. The Pacific storm is producing coastal rain, high elevation snow and strong winds along the West Coast into the Intermountain West to the Southwest and the Rockies. An Alaskan storm will impact southwest Alaska and the Arctic coast.
The map of the United States from the National Weather Service currently indicates that winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings, blizzard warnings, winter storm watches, high wind warnings, and hazardous weather outlooks have been issued in much of the central United States…
…but this winter weather system is expected to affect northeastern Arizona and eastern Utah all the way to northern Ohio. As much as 20 inches of snow could accumulate in local areas of southwestern Kansas to northern Michigan and some portions of southern central Canada. Expect travel conditions to be substantially difficult, as hundreds of flights may be canceled.
Moreover, much of the eastern two-thirds of the United States can experience winds of up to as much as 75 miles per hour, which will result in trees falling down and outages of electrical power.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the central United States over the next few 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 four airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 32 airports in ten states for Monday, January 8, 2024 through Tuesday, January 9, 2024; and Sunday, January 14, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for twelve airports in eight states for Monday, January 8, 2024 through Tuesday, January 9, 2024; and Thursday, January 11, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 13 airports in three states in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States for Monday, January 8, 2024; and Monday, January 15, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 21 airports in seven states in the midwestern region of the United States for Monday, January 8, 2024 through Tuesday, January 9, 2024; and Monday, January 15, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for eleven airports in eight states for Monday, January 8, 2024 through Tuesday, January 9, 2024; and Tuesday, January 23, 2024 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 this winter weather system progresses towards the east.
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.
