Due to the latest weather system, consider ensuring that you have alternate travel plans ready to be implemented because a winter storm to affect northeastern United States January 2024 — and a small portion of southeastern Canada will be affected as well.
Winter Storm to Affect Northeastern 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:
Alaska Storm Persists; Snow for the Southwest and Plains; Close Monitoring East Coast Winter Storm
A series of storms will continue to impact Alaska through the weekend. A storm tracking across the Southwest providing rain and snow, will spread into the central/southern Plains with accumulating snow expected. This system tracks along the Gulf coast Friday then into the mid-Atlantic region this weekend. Heavy rain across the South and Southeast, snow for portions of mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
The map of the United States from the National Weather Service currently indicates a hydrological outlook that cautions of the potential for flooding to be above normal in most of Connecticut, all of Rhode Island, and northeastern Massachusetts; but that is expected to change as the winter storm moves closer to the northeastern United States this coming weekend…
…but the watches and warnings will soon appear and officially be in force, as this winter weather system is expected to affect extreme western North Carolina and extreme eastern Tennessee all the way to Newfoundland. As much as 20 inches of snow could accumulate in an area from northeastern West Virginia to south central Pennsylvania; and from northeastern Pennsylvania to southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire. Expect travel conditions to be substantially difficult; and expect outages of electrical power.
Moreover, icy conditions may occur from southwestern North Carolina to northeastern West Virginia and northern Virginia; and significant rainfall is expected in many areas of the southeastern United States.
A low pressure system is currently tracking across the southeastern United States and will emerge over the western part of the northern Atlantic Ocean as early as late tomorrow, Friday, January 5, 2024 to become a classic “Nor’easter”, which is generally a large-scale extratropical cyclone that is positioned off of the coast of the northeastern United States.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to, from, or within the northeastern United States and a small portion of southeastern Canada 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 six airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 24 airports in eleven states for Saturday, January 6, 2024 through Sunday, January 7, 2024; and Friday, January 12, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for eleven airports in eight states for Saturday, January 6, 2024 through Sunday, January 7, 2024; and Friday, January 12, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for 13 airports in nine states for Saturday, January 6, 2024 through Sunday, January 7, 2024; and Sunday, January 21, 2024 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
- Saint John’s in Newfoundland for Friday, January 5, 2024 through Saturday, January 6, 2024.
- Eight airports in six states for Saturday, January 6, 2024.
- Boston for Saturday, January 6, 2024 through Sunday, January 7, 2024.
- WestJet Airways has issued a travel alert for Saint John’s in Newfoundland for Friday, January 5, 2024 through Saturday, January 6, 2024.
- Porter Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Boston for Thursday, January 4, 2024 through Saturday, January 6, 2024.
- Saint John’s in Newfoundland for Thursday, January 4, 2024 through Friday, January 5, 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 and strengthens.
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.
