Major snow storms across North America have wreaked havoc at airports and either grounded or delayed over 3,000 flights.
The Weather Network forecasts more snowfall today, with 15-35 cm slated for Ontario, while Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa can also expect heavy snow.
According to Flightware, there have already been 15,907 flight delays 10:30am Thursday, as well as 795 cancellations—including 260 within, into or out of the United States. Delays within, into or out of the U.S. hit 3,088.
This follows 8,109 delayed or cancelled flights on Wednesday as a consequence of the same storm system, representing about 18 per cent of the estimated 45,000 daily flights managed by the Federal Aviation Committee.
By comparison, Canada hasn’t been as hard hit. Flightware data showed 184 flight delays at Toronto Pearson International Airport Thursday morning, as well as 127. Of flights into or out of the U.S., cancellations
At Ottawa Airport, where 27 cm of snowfall has been reported—along with 26 cm at Gatineau Airport—21 flights have been cancelled to major destinations like Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary and Fort Lauderdale.
The U.S. has been hit particularly hard, with an estimated 80 per cent of the country hammered by rain and snow storms, flooding and landslides. An estimated 200 million people across 40 states are affected by inclement weather, which began yesterday.
Numerous flight delays and cancellations are concentrated in the U.S. Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and New England, where the mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain affected travel Thursday morning.
U.S. airlines have started issuing travel waivers to passengers stranded at affected airports, allowing free rebookings. Airports in the New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, St. Louis and Denver areas are reporting double-digit flight cancellations as of Thursday morning.
The West Coast is receiving heavy rainfall, while severe flooding is reported throughout the Pacific, and the central and eastern US is being hit with another round of snow and ice.
Los Angeles, which was hit by devastating wildfires last month, is bracing for the potentiality of yet more destruction, courtesy of an “atmospheric river,” although it’s slated to dissipate late Thursday.
