A powerful winter storm sweeping across much of the United States is wreaking havoc on travel, with thousands of flight cancellations and delays on Monday morning. Amtrak has also been forced to cancel several routes along the East Coast and in the Mid-Atlantic states.
As of Monday, approximately 34 million Americans are under winter storm warnings, with affected areas stretching from Illinois to the Mid-Atlantic, including New Jersey and Delaware. The storm, named Winter Storm Blair, is bringing a dangerous mix of snow, ice, and plummeting temperatures, resulting in treacherous road conditions and blizzard-like weather that are making travel difficult.
By 11 a.m. ET on January 6, nearly 2,000 flights within, to, or from the U.S. had been canceled, with another 2,400 flights delayed, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. Southwest Airlines led the cancellations with about 360, followed by American Airlines and Republic Airways, each with 176 cancellations.
Amtrak has also been impacted, canceling multiple train routes due to the winter weather. Although the Acela service between Boston and Washington, D.C., continues to operate, several other routes, including those between Washington and New York and between other Mid-Atlantic cities, have been suspended.
In response to the storm’s disruption, airlines are offering flexibility for affected travelers, allowing them to rebook flights without incurring change fees. For instance, Southwest Airlines has issued a travel advisory allowing passengers with bookings at 14 U.S. airports most likely to be disrupted by the storm to alter their travel plans free of charge.
Travelers are being urged to check flight statuses and train schedules before heading to airports or stations, as the storm’s effects are expected to continue throughout the day.
