US sees thousands of flight delays due to winter storm

Periods of snow, gusty winds, and an icy winter mix will continue to create dangerous travel conditions from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast today. After the storm, cooling is also expected. Please see the latest key messages for more information. pic.twitter.com/sIz33Vp2lJ

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 23, 2023

The update now includes news of a new system being developed off the West Coast that will impact California. Partially readable [emphasis added]:

A sustained severe winter storm will continue to bring heavy snowfall and blizzards to parts of the west as well as the Northern Plains/Great Lakes on Thursday. when a series of low pressure waves crosses the front to the south. Heavy snowfalls of 1 to 2 inches per hour are expected to combine with local winds of 40 to 50 mph, causing significant impacts, including major disruptions to travel, infrastructure, livestock and recreation. This series of low pressure waves that will make up this coast-to-coast winter storm will bring heavy snowfall and significant local ice from the Great Lakes to the northeast, with additional 6 to 12 inches expected in many of these areas. snow, in some quantities reaching 18 inches. Power outages and areas of tree damage are possible in these areas, especially where there is a combination of higher winds and ice accumulation.

Thursday and Friday the threat of heavy snowfall in the west should become more concentrated over California as a new storm system developing near the west coast dips south. and begins to shift to the southwest by the end of the week.

A severe winter storm will bring copious amounts of snow to many mountain ranges in California, including southwestern Oregon and southern Nevada. Snow storms are expected on Friday in the southern Sierra Nevada and on the transverse ridges. Here are the latest key messages. pic.twitter.com/Pc5Cr8hH0r

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) February 23, 2023

As a result, the number of flight delays and cancellations is increasing. On Wednesday, 1,772 US-related flights were canceled and another 7,067 flights were delayed.

According to data from Flight AwareAt Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, 45 percent of flights were canceled, while at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport canceled 34 percent of its flights. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport also canceled 33 percent of its flights on Wednesday. It is noteworthy that over 485.00 DTE Energy customers in the Detroit metro area were without power as of Thursday morning due to the storm.

Delays and cancellations Start to accumulate on Thursday as well. As of 10:40 AM ET, there were 826 U.S.-related flight cancellations and 1,559 more delays. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport still leads the way in terms of cancellations, canceling 29 percent of its flights.