Jan Wesner Childs and Dina Knightly
Traveling for the holiday weekend? Buckle up for what could be a nightmare.
Thousands of flights have already been canceled or delayed at airports in major cities including New York, Chicago and Denver.
Both airline passengers and road travelers are being advised to remain flexible and have a backup plan as a major winter storm tracks from west to east across the United States.
The weather from Winter Storm Elliott, including snow, wind and blistering cold, is bringing travel by air, road and rail to a standstill in some areas during what is expected to be one of the busiest holiday travel seasons in 20 years.
(MORE: The Full Forecast For Winter Storm Elliott)
The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center said earlier this week that the storm would make travel in some areas "extremely dangerous" to "at times impossible land and air travel."
The NWS Chicago office tweeted: "Consider alternate travel plans for Thursday afternoon through Friday."
It's a message spread by authorities across a wide swath of the country.
Here's what you need to know.
More than 112 million people were expected to travel at least 50 miles from home from the day before Christmas Eve through Jan. 2, according to AAA. Most of them were expected to drive. AAA estimates this holiday season will be the third busiest for travel overall since the auto club began tracking numbers in 2000.
Most states post road closures, conditions and other travel updates online, either via the 511 system or highway safety departments. Social media pages of county sheriff's offices and emergency management are also good resources.
Always have an emergency kit in your vehicle and know where you are on the road.
The busiest pre-Christmas travel day at airports nationwide was expected to be Thursday, according to the Transportation Safety Administration. Numbers were expected to be at or near pre-pandemic levels.
Travelers walk in front of American Airlines flight information screens at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.Southwest Airlines is waiving change fees for flights to and from more than 60 airports across the U.S. Dates vary by location and range from Dec. 20 through Dec. 26. Major cities impacted include Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Boston and New York.
Delta Airlines is doing the same at many of the same locations, affecting about three dozen airports. Dates also vary by location.
Other airlines, like United, no longer charge change fees on most flights but are advising passengers to consider adjusting their itineraries and to be prepared for flight delays and cancellations.
Delays hit at least one major airport in Canada early in the week. Some passengers were stuck on board planes for hours after flights were suspended and departing aircraft held at gates Tuesday at Vancouver International Airport, the Associated Press reported.
Travelers wait in line to go through security in Terminal 1 at Minneapolis St. Paul Airport, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, in Minneapolis.Keep important things like medications and phone chargers with you and not packed while flying. That way if your luggage doesn't make it, you have the most important things.
Be aware if you have airport connections and which cities they are in. The same stands for travel by road. Be sure the check the forecast and conditions often and along your entire route.
Try to take an early flight or the first one out. Usually that aircraft is at the airport and ready to go, not getting stuck in other cities.
Layer clothing, especially if you are traveling from a warm city to a cold city or vice versa via plane. It's also more comfortable for car rides.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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