With a brutal winter storm expected to hit much of the U.S. this weekend, disruptions to air travel are all but inevitable.
The storm could affect more than 230 million people across the country in the coming days. Some regions could experience “damaging ice and heavy snow,” making traveling dangerous, according to The Weather Channel, which has dubbed the storm Winter Storm Fern. And a potentially devastating ice storm could cause power outages and crush trees.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday that its weather and air traffic experts “are tracking this weekend’s winter storm to keep flights safe,” and advised travelers to keep up-to-date on the status of their flights. Airlines are bracing for disruptions, and several have already issued advisories for their customers, offering to waive the costs associated with changing their flights.
Here’s what to know about Winter Storm Fern and how it could affect your travel plans.
Where is Winter Storm Fern expected to hit—and when?
The storm is expected to reach parts of the South, Midwest, and Northeast as soon as Friday and last through Monday, according to The Weather Channel. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm alerts for many cities across the country, including Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
Snow, sleet, and freezing rain could hit parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi on Friday. By Saturday, a combination of snow, sleet, and ice could reach parts of Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and New Mexico. Similar conditions could affect the Great Lakes region and the Northeast on Sunday.
Read more: How To Stay Safe and Warm In Extreme Cold Weather
Parts of the Northeast, including New England, could continue experiencing some lingering snow and gusty winds into Monday.
How could the winter storm affect flights this weekend?
The conditions that Winter Storm Fern is expected to bring—gusty winds, ice, snow, and rain—can all impact air travel. Many airlines have already issued alerts advising travelers about the possible disruptions to their flights this weekend, particularly if they’re flying through certain cities that are forecasted to be hit hard by the inclement weather.
Southwest Airlines, for instance, warned its customers that flights may be delayed, diverted, or canceled in or out of a number of cities, including Atlanta, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Raleigh. The airline also said that eligible customers with flights to, from, or through any of those cities can change their travel plans without the change in airfare cost.
American Airlines said that people traveling to, through, or from any of 35 cities likely to be affected by Winter Storm Fern—including Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia—can change their trips, with the fees waived, if they meet certain conditions.
JetBlue also said it would waive the change and cancellation fees for eligible customers who are traveling this Saturday through Monday to or from one of 11 cities, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Providence.
How can you check if your flight is in the winter storm’s path?
Check your airline’s website or app to see if it has mentioned any anticipated impacts to your flight this weekend. You can also look up the forecast each day leading up to your flight, to see if the storm’s path could intersect with that of your flight.
On the day you’re traveling, make sure to check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport. You can also check the flight-tracking platform FlightAware to see how many flight disruptions the airport you’re flying into or out of is experiencing to get an idea of how the weather is affecting air travel there that day.
What steps can travelers take now to prepare?
If your travel plans are flexible, you may want to consider changing them. Since many airlines have waived the fees associated with changing flights, you—most likely—wouldn’t have to pay extra to rebook your flight for a later date.
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