Spring may have arrived five days ago on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in the northern hemisphere; but due to the latest weather system, consider ensuring that you have alternate travel plans ready to be implemented because of a winter storm to affect central United States March 2024 — and southern central Canada will be affected as well.
Winter Storm to Affect Central United States: March 2024 Travel Alert
The following statement is currently posted at the official Internet web site of the National Weather Service of the United States:
Significant Winter Storm Across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest; Severe Storms in the Southern Plains
A significant winter storm will bring heavy snow and strong winds, and possible blizzard conditions to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest through Tuesday morning. Hazardous travel is expected Sunday and Monday. Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are forecast to develop Sunday afternoon and persist through Sunday night from central Texas into Kansas.
The map of the United States from the National Weather Service currently indicates winter storm warnings, blizzard warnings, winter storm watches, and high wind warnings for much of the central United States.
As much as 24 inches of snow could accumulate in an area from central South Dakota to southwestern Ontario. Expect travel conditions to be substantially difficult; and expect outages of electrical power. Snow in general is expected to occur from extreme southeastern British Columbia all the way to south central Ontario and as far south as southwestern Colorado.
Moreover, rainy conditions mixed with thunderstorms are expected from southeastern Minnesota south to Texas; and wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour could occur in an area from Kansas to northern central Mexico — but especially from southeastern New Mexico to the panhandle of Texas.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the central United States and south central Canada over the next couple 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 seven airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Miami for Friday, March 22, 2024 through Monday, March 25, 2024; and Wednesday, March 27, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for five airports in three states for Sunday, March 24, 2024 through Monday, March 25, 2024; and Thursday, March 28, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 14 airports in four states in the northern plains region of the United States for Sunday, March 24, 2024 through Monday, March 25, 2024; and Thursday, March 28, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Toronto and 17 airports in nine states in the northeastern United States for Saturday, March 23, 2024 through Sunday, March 24, 2024; and Thursday, March 28, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Sun Country Airlines has issued travel alerts for Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul for Sunday, March 24, 2024 through Monday, March 25, 2024; and Monday, April 1, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for Denver, Minneapolis, and nine airports in four provinces for Sunday, March 24, 2024.
- WestJet Airways has issued travel alerts for:
- Minneapolis and Saint John’s in Newfoundland for Sunday, March 24, 2024 through Monday, March 25, 2024.
- Thunder Bay for Monday, March 25, 2024 through Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
- Porter Airlines has issued travel alerts for Halifax and Saint John’s in Newfoundland for Sunday, March 24, 2024.
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 ©2010 by Brian Cohen.
