Holiday Havoc: How Weather and Airport Delays Are Shaking Up Christmas Travel for Americans

Millions of Americans throughout the United States are preparing for challenging weather conditions during the Christmas season, with storms poised to further disrupt one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Along the eastern coastline, the initial storm of the winter blanketed towns from Boston to Baltimore with ice and snow.

Simultaneously, residents of California are clearing up the wreckage of a storm that delivered hurricane-force winds, flooding, and high surf on Monday, resulting in one man’s death.

These weather incidents complicate travel arrangements for Americans who are already enduring air travel holdups following a ground stop of American Airlines flights caused by a technological malfunction.

In the eastern region, winter precipitation is projected to affect travel for many, as heavy snowfall affects areas such as Boston and New York, while Baltimore and Washington DC are preparing for moisture and ice.

On the western side, the storm from Monday resulted in a pier collapsing, tossing three individuals into the Pacific Ocean.

Waves from that storm soared to 60ft (18m) and led to some evacuations. Flooding and high surf warnings remain in effect through Tuesday.

The weather isn’t the only factor affecting holiday travel on Tuesday, with technical issues increasing stress as millions of Americans rush to their destinations.

Early on Tuesday, American Airlines flights were suspended after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared a “nationwide groundstop” due to a “vendor technology issue”.

The groundstop was lifted approximately an hour after it was initiated and flights resumed, but not without causing a wave of delays.

Delays were anticipated to persist throughout the day on Tuesday, with some departures leaving up to two hours after their scheduled times.

American Airlines expressed regret for the inconvenience and stated: “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working tirelessly to get customers to their destinations as swiftly as possible”.

Although many morning flights were postponed on Tuesday, the majority of afternoon flights are on track to depart as planned.