On Friday, millions of Americans were hit by an unprecedented winter storm with bone-chilling temperatures, blizzard conditions, and widespread power outages causing serious disruption to holiday plans. The winter weather affected more than 60% of the U.S. population with warnings or advisories from California to New England and as far south as Florida.
The impact on air travel was particularly severe, with FlightAware reporting almost 4,800 flight cancellations within and into the United States, in addition to over 7,700 delayed flights. This has caused huge disruption for travelers trying to make it home for the holidays. Cancellations are likely to continue into Saturday and beyond due to weather-related delays.
In many states hundreds of thousands of homes have been left without power due to high winds bringing down trees onto power lines; emergency services have been overwhelmed by calls; roads were closed due to flooding or blocked by snow drifts; and schools were forced to close early before their Christmas break began.
Local authorities are providing shelter for those without electricity or running water, offering advice about how best cope with any disruptions caused by snow or flooding, as well as spreading messages about staying indoors during blizzards or avoiding flooded areas during storms such as this one.
Most major carriers have changed their policies regarding flight cancellations and rebooking fees due to extreme weather conditions associated with this event. It is important that customers check with their airline beforehand so they can understand any potential waiver policies if their flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to this weather system over the coming days.
Travelers are strongly advised against leaving last minute preparations until nearer to departure time as there may be additional disruptions if another significant snowfall occurs in a particular location during peak times.
