Airlines have canceled more than 8,000 flights into, out of, and within the U.S. because of the East Coast blizzard causing record snowfall and serious coastal flooding.
On Friday, airlines canceled 3,100 flights, with another 4,256 canceled on Saturday as of 10 a.m. ET, according to FlightAware. Cancelations for Sunday have already topped 1,200. Cancelations were expected, but are likely to increase through the weekend due to heavier snow than was anticipated as of Friday afternoon.
At airports in Washington, D.C., and New York City, whiteout conditions made it impossible to operate flights.
White out conditions @Dulles_Airport @jaygraymatters pic.twitter.com/gmTAom0jtM— NBC PHOTOG (@bforte22) January 23, 2016
Air space always peaceful during the storms. #blizzard2016 NYC and DC: pic.twitter.com/umGtMBCIxy— Jessica Plautz (@jessicaplautz) January 23, 2016
And lack of flights isn't the only reason people should stay home: Local authorities in the worst hit areas are warning residents to stay home.
Road conditions are not just bad, they're dangerous. On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, for example, hundreds of motorists are stranded: The National Guard is being sent in to help.
Duquesne's men's basketball team is stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike! https://t.co/1hP1I47ulY pic.twitter.com/6XBibP13z7— Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 23, 2016
@NDHEADLOCK what my day will consist of being stuck on a bus in the middle of Pennsylvania Turnpike pic.twitter.com/ntbySsMu86— Tanner Harris (@tanner_harris2) January 23, 2016
U.S. airlines expect start getting back to speed on Sunday evening, with the goal of returning to normal operations by Monday.