Over the past week, much of the United States has been hit by a severe winter storm, causing chaos and disruption to travel plans. Flight tracking website FlightAware has reported that more than 2,200 flights were canceled by 5:30 pm ET on Christmas Day, and nearly 5,800 flights were delayed, with the most affected airport being Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL). Even Denver International Airport (DIA), located more than 1,000 miles away in the Rocky Mountains, was affected by the storm.
The storm has also caused transportation challenges in western New York, where Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) will stay closed until 11 am on Tuesday, December 27. Amtrak has seen several service and cancellation disruptions from now through Sunday, December 25, and Greyhound is also seeing disruptions, particularly on routes into and out of Buffalo and Syracuse in New York.
The storm is forecast to slowly moderate into the last week of the year, however travelers should stay informed and up-to-date on flight and transportation cancellations and delays, and allow for extra time when traveling. More than 260 preemptive cancellations for Monday have already been reported, so it's important to stay informed and be prepared.