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2,200 flights canceled, nearly 7,000 delayed as winter storm continues to disrupt holiday travel

While there have been more than 2,200 flights canceled across the country as of 5 pm, United Airlines hoped it can limit the impact in the East

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: With the winter storm bringing heavy snowfall and dangerously lowering temperatures, about 7,000 delays and 2,200 flight cancellations were recorded on Thursday, December 22, making it more difficult for millions of people to travel for Christmas. Two of the biggest airports in the nation saw a large number of cancellations and delays.

At least 550 flight cancellations and more than 500 delay reports have been made by Chicago O'Hare International Airport. There were 73 delays and more than 250 flight cancellations at Chicago Midway International Airport, while Denver International Airport recorded 565 cancellations and nearly 580 delays as of Thursday afternoon. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia has seen 468 flights delayed and 106 canceled as per FlightAware.

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While there have been more than 2,200 flights canceled across the country as of 5 pm, United Airlines hoped it can limit the impact in the East. "We don’t expect a significant schedule pull-down for the East Coast region, but these situations are always fluid and have the potential to change," said United Airlines spokesman Charlie Hobart as per CNN. The FAA stated that once the freezing temperatures associated with this storm system set in, the frequency of flight delays and cancellations that are increasing in Denver, St Louis, Milwaukee, and Chicago will depend on how quickly airports can de-ice planes.

The National Weather Service which has already warned that this is going to be "one in a generation storm" has said that travel will be difficult to nearly impossible. In the latest update, NWS said, "Very strong winds are expected to continue Friday night and Saturday with wind-driven heavy lake effect snows northeast of the Lakes. Heavy lake snows will last through at least Christmas Day, possibly lingering into the first part of next week." "A messy wintry mix will overspread the Pacific Northwest this evening and tonight, producing significant accumulations of freezing rain on Friday. Dangerous travel, as well as scattered tree damage and power outages are likely. Use caution if traveling for the holiday weekend," the National Weather Service Prediction center tweeted. "Here are key messages for the continued winter weather through tomorrow. Gusty winds and dangerously cold temperatures will become the norm tonight and especially Friday. Stay indoors, if you can!" NWS Chicago said in its Tweet. "If you have any outdoor holiday decorations that are susceptible to the wind, now is a good time to either secure them in place, bring them inside, or wave goodbye. Final prep for the wind/cold should be rushed to completion as the front is knocking on our doorstep", NWS in Wilmington warned its residents.

The storm has caused temperatures to fall rapidly in some parts of the country, with drops of 40 or more degrees in a matter of hours. The storm is expected to become a bomb cyclone early Friday.