Travelers fight for footing as cold relents
Bitter cold that seized the East Coast will begin to ease this week as airlines try to get back on track after days of snarled traffic.
By Monday and Tuesday, temperatures could reach into the 30s and 40s from Philadelphia to Boston after hovering in the 20s on Sunday, forecasters say. But even as temperatures ease, icy precipitation forecast from Chicago to eastern North Carolina could make travel treacherous on Monday.
“Winter weather advisories are in effect for light freezing rain and sleet for these areas and light to moderate snow farther to the north,” the National Weather Service said.
Delta Air Lines already is offering to change flights without a fee Monday and Tuesday for airports from Washington, D.C., to Boston.
“While heavy precipitation is not anticipated by the storm at this time, it just takes a small amount of ice to make roads and sidewalks a skating rink,” said Elliot Abrams, an AccuWeather chief meteorologist.
The warming arrives as the aftermath of a massive snowstorm continued to disrupt flights at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday after about 6,000 flights were canceled Thursday and Friday. A water main break at Terminal 4 delayed even more flights Sunday and forced a partial evacuation. On Saturday, fights broke out at JFK as airlines tried to get passengers moving.
Charleston International Airport also resumed flights Sunday.
“It just takes a small amount of ice to make roads and sidewalks a skating rink.” Elliot Abrams AccuWeather chief meteorologist