Snow puts freeze on air travel

A massive snowstorm along the East Coast left hundreds of travelers stuck in South Florida after their flights were canceled Thursday.

The National Weather Service was forecasting record low temperatures for 28 major cities in the mid-Atlantic states, New York and across New England by early Sunday. The huge winter storm was threatening to dump as many as 18 inches of snow and unleash hurricaneforce winds and flooding.

The fierce conditions left nearly 5,000 flights canceled across the country. They included more than two-thirds of the flights at New York and Boston airports, according to the FlightAware website.

Those flight disruptions affected schedules at airports in South Florida.

A freeze warning was issued Thursday for western Palm Beach County; frost advisories were issued for western Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The National Weather Service said the coldest temperatures would settle over South

Florida through this morning, with temperatures expected to rise over the weekend.

As of Thursday evening, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport had

canceled more than 80 arriving and departing flights. Miami International Airport canceled more than double that; Palm Beach International Airport had over 40 cancellations.

The flight delays and cancellations started Wednesday, but some travelers seemed to take it in stride

and stay put, said Patricia Barquero, who was heading home to Littleton, Colo.

“There are a couple of people who are staying in Florida because it’s too cold to go home,” she said.

Clyde Kimrey was heading to Raleigh, N.C., after returning from a cruise to Mexico.

“I’m flying through Baltimore, where it’s supposed to be snowy and bad weather,” he said. “I’m concerned when I get to Baltimore [my plans] will change.”

Aviation officials urge passengers to contact their airline to confirm the status of their flights before going to the airport.