Winter weather delays flights, holiday travel across US

Christmas Day created travel chaos for certain travelers. In parts of Nebraska, semis jackknifed, vehicles piled up, and some drivers slid off of the road, Monday, Dec. 25.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) reported responding to at least 100 weather-related incidents.

The NSP urged drivers to only travel if necessary and carry a survival kit in case vehicles get stranded. Authorities also say to stay in the car if waiting for help.

In the upper Midwest, heavy snow, freezing rain and whipping winds are the reason for those words of caution.

Nebraska isn’t the only state feeling the wrath of winter.

Parts of South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming were under blizzard warnings Tuesday, Dec. 26.

Forecasters expect the extreme conditions to get worse in some areas, and they predict up to a foot of snow in south-central South Dakota.

The storm is expected to weaken Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. However, a “wintry mix” may last until Wednesday across the Plains and upper Midwest.

For travelers looking toward the skies, air travel seems a little more welcoming.

According to Flight Aware, a flight tracking website, just 2,430 flights were delayed and 68 canceled as of Tuesday morning.

Southwest Airlines had the most delays with 663, but just two cancellations.

Flight Aware reported 3,514 total delays and 174 cancellations Monday.

Substantially more flights were delayed or canceled Saturday through Sunday. On Saturday, there were 5,901 delays and 250 cancellations. Sunday, 3,881 flights were delayed and 363 were canceled.

The bulk of delays once again came from Southwest, accounting for 2,690.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines blamed most of the delays on fog at Chicago Midway.

This year, airlines have prepared for massive amounts of passengers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers.

The enhanced hiring efforts are to avoid the delays and cancellations that created a travel nightmare in 2022, most notably, Southwest Airlines stranding more than 2 million people.

Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines reached a $140 million settlement with the federal government for the ordeal.

However, 2023 is proving to be a much better year for airlines. The Department of Transportation is reporting the lowest flight cancellation rate in five years.

The percentage of flights canceled is at 1.3%, down from 2.3% in 2022, and even lower than pre-pandemic flight cancellations. But the test isn’t over yet, with AAA predicting 115 million people to travel by car or air nationwide by the time New Year’s Day arrives. That number is up 2% from last year.

If traveling by air, experts say travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport, and check in online to avoid lengthy lines.

For drivers, check the weather, tire pressure and make sure to have a full tank of gas.

Blankets, flashlights and extra winter gear are also suggested, as well as food and water in case of emergencies.