After Thanksgiving, winter storms are causing travel problems across the U.S. Major airports like Phoenix’s Sky Harbor were busy over the weekend, but cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Des Moines, and Grand Rapids faced delays and cancellations because of the bad weather, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Chicago's O'Hare Airport, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, experienced significant disturbance with nearly nine inches of snow covering the city. The airport struggled with over 4,000 flight delays on Sunday afternoon, while the previous day saw more than 2,000 cancellations. Caught in the high winds, both air and road commutes faced the challenge in the Windy City where packed with stranded passengers, halls of the airports stood still.
In contrast, Phoenix's Sky Harbor managed to fare better, reporting only two flight cancellations and a mere 100 delays. These figures, modest in the face of national disruptions, suggest a variability in the storm's impact, with some regions weathering the conditions more effectively than others, as per FOX 10 Phoenix.
Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chicago, captured the sentiment of surprise among those witnessing the harsh onset of winter, saying in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, "Honestly, what's making this kind of seem more unusual for a lot of people is the last couple of winters, we've kind of been more on the mild side. December's been fairly dormant." These observations affirm the stark contrast presented by the current flurry of delays and cancellations sweeping the nation, with the past mild winters standing in the background.
With the ordeal not yet over, travelers are urged to remain vigilant. According to Yahoo News, the best course of action is for passengers to stay informed by double-checking flight statuses with their airlines. This proactive approach aims to reduce the uncertainty and inconvenience during this peak travel season, with the hope of reaching final destinations safely this holiday stretch.
