Major Winter Storm Looms Over Colorado: Travel Disruptions Expected
by Daniel McCarthy /As much of the eastern United States enjoys the best weather of 2024 so far, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, those in and around Colorado are bracing for a major winter storm this week.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm warning for Colorado ahead of Wednesday, alerting that heavy snow will develop “over central Colorado Wednesday night into Thursday followed by rain/mountain snow across the Four Corners to the southern High Plains Thursday into Friday.”
According to the NWS, one to two feet of wet snow is possible into Wednesday night in some areas, including in Boulder and Denver. Another wave of heavy storm will then hit the southern Rockies on Thursday, bringing another 8 inches in some areas and up to a foot for those at higher elevations.
Some other forecasts estimate that as much as 3 feet of snow is possible in some areas, including Summit County.
The storm is expected to snarl air traffic in and around Denver starting Wednesday. In advance of that, several carriers have issued change fee waivers for those scheduled to travel through the area this week. Here is the latest:
American Airlines
American has a waiver in place for those traveling to, from, or through Aspen (ASE), Colorado Springs (COST), Denver (DEN), Grand Junction (GJT), Gunnison/Crested Butte (GUC), Montrose/Telluride (MTJ), Steamboat Springs (HDN), and Vail (EGE). The waiver includes all tickets scheduled for March 13 and March 14 in all cabin classes.
Travelers on those tickets can rebook without change fees in the same cabin for new travel by March 17.
Delta Air Lines
Delta has a waiver for those traveling to, from, or through Aspen (ASE), Colorado Springs (COST), and Denver (DEN) from Wednesday, March 13 through Friday, March 15.
New tickets must be in the same class of service, between the same cities, and must be for travel no longer than March 18.
Frontier
Frontier has its waiver in place for March 13 through March 14 for flights in, out, or through Denver (DEN). Frontier is waiving the change fee for new tickets but is not waiving any fare differences.
Southwest
Southwest has a waiver in place for those flying in, out, or through Colorado Springs (COS), Denver (DEN), and Steamboat Springs (HDN) from Wednesday, March 13 through Friday, March 15.
Those who want to change their plans can rebook in the original class of service or travel standby within 14 days of their original date of travel without paying additional charges.
United Airlines
United’s waiver includes Aspen (ASE), Colorado Springs (COS), Casper (CPR), Cheyenne (CYS), Denver (DEN), Vail/Eagle (EGE), Gunnison (GUC), Steamboat Springs (HDN), and Laramie (LAR).
United is allowing all those traveling through those airports from Wednesday, March 13 through Friday, March 15 to reschedule without change fees and fare difference. New flights must be in the same cabin and between the same cities. The new flight must be a United flight departing between March 10, 2024, and March 19, 2024.