Travel Alert February 2019: Winter Weather Impacts Northern and Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada

If the northern and eastern United States or southeastern Canada are in your travel plans over the next week or so, you may want to consider delaying your travel — or, at least, keep yourself updated as to the latest information pertaining to the weather — due to winter weather which is already disrupting travel at a minimum of 70 airports in as many as 16 states and seven provinces.

Travel Alert February 2019: Winter Weather Impacts Northern and Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada

Through Thursday, February 7, 2019, up to one foot of snow is expected to accumulate from the border South Dakota shares with Minnesota all the way into east of the Great Lakes region of Ontario — this includes Minneapolis and Saint Paul — while up to six inches of snow could occur in cities such as Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Lincoln, Fargo and Thunder Bay.

A swath of ice could affect cities such as Wichita, Rochester, Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, Topeka and Toronto due to freezing rain — which is rain that freezes once it comes in contact with the cold ground and can cause power disruptions due to ice accumulating on electrical power lines — while an icy mix of precipitation is forecast for Albany, Portland, Syracuse, Montréal, Burlington, Worcester, Manchester, Bangor, Concord, Binghamton, Merrimack, Halifax and Hartford.

Dense fog can form in pockets of some of the aforementioned areas.

Meanwhile, expect significant rain to fall in the Mississippi Valley and the Ohio Valley. Severe thunderstorms are possible — especially with some areas of the southern United States expecting record warm temperatures later this week — which typically occurs when two air masses with a sharp difference in temperature and humidity collide.

Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations

If the northern and eastern United States or southeastern Canada are in your travel plans over the next week or so, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to the winter weather which may 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. If you are driving in any of the affected areas, watch out for deteriorating weather conditions and traffic problems.

Here are eleven airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:

• American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 25 airports in seven states and the province of Ontario for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Great Lakes Region: 27 airports in four states for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Saturday, February 9, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Northeast Region: 18 airports in eight states and two provinces for Wednesday, February 6, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Northern Plains: 26 airports in six states for Thursday, February 7, 2019 through Friday, February 8, 2019; and Monday, February 11, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport for Tuesday, February 5, 2019; and Friday, February 8, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Jackson Hole for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Tuesday, February 12, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Midwest: 28 airports in seven states and the province of Ontario for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Rocky Mountain Region: 16 airports in four states and two provinces for Wednesday, February 6, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Chicago Midway Airport and Minneapolis-Saint Paul for Monday, February 4, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Wednesday, February 20, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Midwest: Seven airports in six states for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Wednesday, February 20, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Northeast: nine airports in seven states for Wednesday, February 6, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019; and Thursday, February 21, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit and Rochester for Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Saturday, February 9, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Frontier Airines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Eleven airports in eight states for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Thursday, February 28, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Colorado Springs, Denver and Salt Lake City for Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Thursday, February 28, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Spirit Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Detroit for Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Boston, Hartford and Niagara Falls for Wednesday, February 6, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Sun Country Airlines has issued a travel alert for Minneapolis-Saint Paul for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019; and Monday, February 11, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
• Air Canada has issued travel alerts for:
  • Chicago and seven airports in Ontario for Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
  • Montréal, Ottawa, and both airports which serve the greater Toronto metropolitan area for Thursday, February 7, 2019.
• WestJet Airways has issued travel alerts for:
  • Québec City, Montréal and Ottawa for Sunday, February 3, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
  • Seven cities in four provinces for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
  • Five cities in Ontario for Wednesday, February 6, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019.
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
  • Great Lakes Region: 27 airports in four states for Tuesday, February 5, 2019 through Wednesday, February 6, 2019; and Saturday, February 9, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Northeast Region: 18 airports in eight states and two provinces for Wednesday, February 6, 2019 through Thursday, February 7, 2019; and Sunday, February 10, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
  • Northern Plains: 26 airports in six states for Thursday, February 7, 2019 through Friday, February 8, 2019; and Monday, February 11, 2019 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.

Summary

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.