Travel Alert February 2020: Winter Weather to Affect Midwestern United States
If the midwestern United States is in your travel plans over the next few days, 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 a pair of winter storms.
Travel Alert February 2020: Winter Weather to Affect Midwestern United States
Two winter storms are expected to converge and result in accumulations of snow from eastern Montana all the way to eastern Kansas and central Michigan.
Cities such as Grand Rapids, Chicago, Davenport, Milwaukee, Rockford, and Lansing could receive up to 16 inches of snow in local areas; while up to six inches of snow may accumulate in cities such as Madison and Rapid City. Up to three inches of snow is not out of the question for cities such as Omaha and Detroit.
Meanwhile, torrential rains, thunderstorms, tornado watches, flood watches, and flood warnings continue to plague the southeastern United States and the east coast of the United States. Expect travel to be interrupted in these regions as well.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If the midwestern United States is in your travel plans over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to these winter weather systems 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 seven airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for 24 airports in seven states for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Saturday, February 29, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued a travel alert for both airports which serve the greater Chicago metropolitan area for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Saturday, February 29, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for 14 airports in five states and Toronto for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Saturday, February 29, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Milwaukee for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Wednesday, March 11, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued a travel alert for Chicago for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Saturday, February 29, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for eight airports in five states for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Wednesday, March 11, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued a travel alert for both airports which serve the greater Chicago metropolitan area for Tuesday, February 25, 2020 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020; and Saturday, February 29, 2020 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
Summary
Additional airlines may issue travel waivers as a result of this winter weather system as it tracks its way eastward across the United States.
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.
