PHOENIX -- Despite near perfect weather on Christmas Day in metro-Phoenix, many Arizonans are experiencing major travel delays as the East Coast braces for a major winter storm.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for the New York City area, which is preparing for 11 to 16 inches of snow on Sunday. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for major East Coast cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia, all of which are expecting between 6 and 10 inches of snow.
Continental Airlines has canceled 250 Sunday departures from Newark Liberty International Airport. United Airlines has plans to cancel dozens of Sunday departures from Newark, Philadelphia, New York's LaGuardia and JFK, Boston and other airports. AirTran and Southwest Airlines have each canceled dozens of flights Sunday departures from Washington Dulles, Baltimore and Newark.
Most airlines are issuing waivers that allow passengers alter flight plans with no additional fees due to storm.
Hundreds of flights were canceled Saturday as ice and snow interrupted operations at several airports that serve as major airline hubs, including the nation's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International.
Delta Airlines canceled over 500 flights nationwide, 300 of which were scheduled to depart from Atlanta, its East Coast hub. As the storm moves east overnight, hundreds of Sunday's flights are being canceled from Boston to Florida.
The winter storm started in the Midwest on Christmas Eve, dumping more than 7 inches of snow in Cedar Rapids, Iowa before heading south Friday night. Winter weather advisories were in effect throughout the day on Saturday from western Tennessee to the Carolinas and from West Virginia to Alabama.
AIRLINE TRAVEL ALERTS & SPECIAL TRAVEL WAIVER INFO
- Airtran Airlines Weather Center
- Alaska Airlines
- America West Airlines
- American Airlines Traveler Center
- Continental Airlines Weather Operations
- Delta Airlines Flight Status Center
- Frontier Airlines
- Jet Blue Weather Center
- Midwest Express
- Northwest Airlines
- Sun Country Airlines
- Southwest Airlines Wintry Weather Alerts
- Spirit Airlines
- U.S. Airways Travel Advisories
- United Airlines Travel Waivers
