Updates to Massive Winter Storms February 2021: Travel Waivers Keep On Coming
Multiple travel alerts continue to be released by many airlines for much of the United States and southern Canada due to massive winter storms which keep sweeping across both countries, which means that simply listing portions of North America which are not undergoing winter weather or inclement weather this week would actually be easier to do.
Updates to Massive Winter Storms February 2021: Travel Waivers Keep On Coming
Almost 75 percent of the United States already has snow or ice which is currently on the ground — which broke a record — and this bizarre weather pattern has affected at least 210 million people in 46 states in the United States and seven provinces in Canada. Greater than four million people in Texas and at least seven other states are already without electricity due to power outages — with no idea as to when electric power will be restored.
United Airlines alone has issued travel alerts for at least 64 airports; and American Airlines has issued travel alerts for at least 59 airports.
If that was not bad enough, a deep trough of frigid air has either challenged or shattered record low temperatures as far south as southern Texas with some of the coldest temperatures in as many as 126 years…
On February 14, the difference between morning surface temperature (7 AM EST) at Minneapolis and Miami was 94.5°F, the 4th largest on record since 1973.
Quick approximation of the air mass contrast to the east of the Rockies using 12Z soundings. Record 102.9°F on 2 Feb 1996. pic.twitter.com/Vm8EoJnPOh
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 17, 2021
…to the point at which Shreveport in Louisiana experienced a colder morning than Fairbanks in Alaska…
🤣🤣🤣It's not every day you can say that @NWSShreveport has a colder morning than @NWSFairbanks🤣🤣🤣#winter2021 #brrr pic.twitter.com/d4Zadu3YAu
— NWS Elko (@NWSElko) February 16, 2021
…as well as colder in Texas than in Maine…
Temperatures are colder this afternoon in much of Texas than in Maine. Looking for warmer weather head to central and south Florida. #MEwx #TXwx #FLwx pic.twitter.com/tYe3Kwx19c
— NWS Caribou (@NWSCaribou) February 15, 2021
…not to mention the portions of the United States which have been affected by rain, thunderstorms, and even tornadoes instead of frozen precipitation. At least three people were killed as a result of a powerful tornado in southeastern North Carolina, where greater than 50 homes were damaged.
The Cascade Mountain range of Washington and Oregon is covered by as much as 60 inches — yes, five feet — of snow in the higher elevations.
As much as 36 inches of snow is currently on the ground in the following areas:
- Western Colorado in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains
- Eastern California in the higher elevations
- Central Utah
- North central New Mexico
- Portions of eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, southwestern Montana, and western Wyoming
In addition to what is already currently on the ground from recent storms, up to a foot of snow is forecast from the extreme eastern panhandle of Texas to northeastern Arkansas and from eastern West Virginia to extreme southern New Hampshire, which includes — but is not limited to — New York, Boston, Fort Smith, New Haven, Martinsburg, Providence, Harrisburg, Little Rock, Albany, Wichita Falls, Lancaster, Hartford, Worcester, and Newark; while up to six inches of snow is predicted from northeastern Texas all the way to eastern Nova Scotia, which includes Cleveland, Louisville, Fort Worth, Memphis, Saint John, Syracuse, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Cincinnati, Portland, Tulsa, Burlington, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Halifax, Lexington, and Buffalo.
Another winter storm poised to bring snow and ice to Southern Plains and the mid-Miss Valley today/tonight will then push the east, impacting areas all the way to the East Coast by Thursday and Friday.
Stay safe and keep up with the latest for your area at https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP pic.twitter.com/ObbhlVzaqk— National Weather Service (@NWS) February 16, 2021
As much as three inches of snow is expected from northwestern Texas all the way to Newfoundland and Labrador; and cities which are included in this area are Baltimore, Saint Louis, Saint John’s, Roanoke, Indianapolis, Nashville, Montréal, and the District of Columbia.
Meanwhile, ice will likely be a problem from central Texas all the way to southeastern Long Island in New York, which includes New York, Nashville, Austin, Atlantic City, Richmond, San Angelo, Knoxville, Wilmington, Richmond, Dover, Baltimore, Trenton, Philadelphia, Newark, and the District of Columbia. Up to one inch of ice is possible in some of these areas — especially along the Appalachian Mountains from southwestern North Carolina and extreme northeastern Tennessee all the way to northern Virginia, including Asheville, Roanoke, and Charlottesville.
There is potential for severe weather from the Florida panhandle into the coastal Carolinas on Thursday (2/18). All severe weather hazards will be possible including a couple tornadoes. pic.twitter.com/Es5RezW00O
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) February 17, 2021
Rain and severe weather continues to plague the southeastern United States from extreme southeastern Mississippi all the way to eastern North Carolina, with the heaviest liquid precipitation forecast for the panhandle of the state of Florida, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia, where heavy thunderstorms with a chance of isolated tornadoes are also possible due to unstable air which is caused when warm air clashes with much colder air, creates energy, and wrings out moisture. This includes Tallahassee, Macon, Charleston, Wilmington, Pensacola, and Savannah…
…and if you think you are safer with rain instead of snow, think again: in addition to the aforementioned three fatalities in North Carolina, one person was killed in a fiery accident involving at least a dozen vehicles in the northbound lanes on Interstate 75 in Cobb County north of Atlanta because of a car which hydroplaned off the road and struck a guard rail, which caused a chain reaction which involved multiple tractor trailer trucks and closed the entire highway for the rest of the day on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
Numerous other highway and traffic accidents occurred around the United States this past week because of the weather — including a massive accident in Fort Worth which killed at least six people.
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If the aforementioned regions of the United States and Canada are 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 this winter weather system 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 ten airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of this weather system:
- American Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 37 airports in the Northeastern region of the United States for Thursday, February 18, 2021 through Saturday, February 20, 2021; and Thursday, February 25, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 22 airports in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for Sunday, February 14, 2021 through Thursday, February 18, 2021; and Monday, February 22, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Delta Air Lines has issued travel alerts for:
- 15 airports in the Northeastern region of the United States for Thursday, February 18, 2021 through Saturday, February 20, 2021; and Thursday, February 25, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Six airports in the state of Texas for Monday, February 15, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021; and Sunday, February 21, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- United Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- 24 airports in the Northeastern region of the United States for Thursday, February 18, 2021 through Saturday, February 20, 2021; and Thursday, February 25, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 15 airports in the Ohio River Valley region of the United States and Canada for Wednesday, February 17, 2021 through Friday, February 19, 2021; and Wednesday, February 24, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- 24 airports in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada for Monday, February 15, 2021 through Tuesday, February 16, 2021; and Friday, February 19, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Houston for Tuesday, February 16, 2021 through Saturday, February 20, 2021; and Thursday, February 25, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Alaska Airlines has issued travel alerts for five airports in the state of Texas for Monday, February 15, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021; and Tuesday, February 23, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Southwest Airlines has issued travel alerts for:
- Seven airports in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for Sunday, February 15, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021; and Wednesday, March 3, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Memphis, Saint Louis, and Wichita for Tuesday, February 16, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021; and Wednesday, March 3, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- JetBlue Airways has issued travel alerts for 15 airports in seven states for Thursday, February 18, 2021 through Friday, February 19, 2021; and Wednesday, February 24, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Frontier Airlines has issued travel alerts for eleven airports in four states for Tuesday, February 16, 2021 through Thursday, February 18, 2021; and Wednesday, March 3, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Spirit Airlines has issued travel alerts for Austin, Dallas, and Houston for Sunday, February 14, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021; and Wednesday, February 24, 2021 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Air Canada has issued a travel alert for Saint John’s for Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
- WestJet Airways has issued a travel alert for Saint John’s for Tuesday, February 16, 2021 through Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Summary
Additional airlines may issue travel waivers as a result of this unusually massive winter weather event. You will be kept apprised as the newsroom here at The Gate is flooded with weather alerts and travel waivers.
Okay — so The Gate does not have a newsroom filled with intrepid reporters and the latest equipment and technology. You get the idea. I simply want to ensure that you stay safe — which is why I cover weather which may not be included in the travel waivers which are issued by airlines.
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…
…and just keep in mind that Spring starts next month; and relief from this winter weather is coming soon…
All photographs ©2017 and ©2020 by Brian Cohen.