Thousands more flights are expected to be canceled into early next week.
American Airlines announced Thursday that 16% of its Saturday flight schedule had been canceled, while Delta Air Lines canceled flights in five states ahead of the storm set to begin Friday and last through Monday.
This comes days after most major airlines issued travel waivers for flights this weekend across the majority of the eastern two-thirds of the country.
Meanwhile, state departments of transportation are gearing up for days of hazardous snow and ice expected to cover many of the nation’s roadways.
The storm is expected to impact the vast majority of air travel hubs all told, including Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York.
A paralyzing ice storm is expected to be the main threat within the southern component of this colossal winter system beginning Friday.
Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from New Mexico through the South to the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic coasts could see ice accretion capable of causing numerous power outages.
Meanwhile, states in the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys are forecast to see heavy snow, while the mid-Atlantic and Northeast portions of the Interstate 95 corridor are preparing for what could be their biggest snowstorm in years.
Due to the expected conditions, Delta has canceled flights in north Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee to ensure the safety of its customers.
According to a press release, the airline is also working on “adjusting staffing levels to ensure that teams are in place” to support customers.
Other airlines, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit, have all issued expansive travel waivers for dozens of airports across the country beginning Friday.
Travel experts advised people flying this weekend to get ahead of the storm.
“Proactively changing flights before cancellations hit is going to save you frustration,” national travel expert Dayvee Sutton told FOX Weather Thursday.
Travel experts advised people flying this weekend to get ahead of the storm.
The heaviest snow across the Southern Plains is expected between Interstates 70 and 40, while icing is the primary concern across Interstates 40, 20, and even parts of Interstate 10 in the Southeast.
Similar conditions are expected across the major north-south arteries in these regions, including Interstates 35, 81, 75, and 65.
Periods of nearly impossible driving conditions are expected through the weekend.
Crews in Dallas have also started to prepare, salting roads ahead of freezing rain and snow expected by Friday afternoon, as emergency response resources were deployed across the entire state.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation said crews are preparing roads for winter weather in New Orleans.
North Carolina and South Carolina declared states of emergency as officials warned residents to prepare now and stay home this weekend.
Heavy snow is expected across the I-81, I-80, and I-95 corridors in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with the storm forecast to arrive Saturday night.