Winter Storm Blair: Weather Predictions and Travel Changes

Winter Storm Blair is expected to cause significant travel interruptions from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic on Monday.

The National Weather Service predicts that about 6 to 12 inches of moderate to heavy snow, continuing into late Monday night, will hit the region, including the Washington, D.C. Metro area. 

Flight changes are already mounting at Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI) International Airports. According to FlightAware, 238 flights (59%) are cancelled at DCA, 109 (38%) at BWI, and 92 (24%) at IAD. 

Airlines are offering waivers for change fees for an even longer list of airports through central and eastern U.S. due to the winter weather. Airports in states from Kansas to Tennessee to North Carolina and more are impacted. 

United Airlines is offering waivers for the most airports, while other airlines are only focusing on the east coast; United has two separate waivers for central U.S. winter weather and mid-Atlantic winter weather. Those with original travel dates of Jan. 5 or 6 from mid-Atlantic airports can reschedule their flights without change fees for departure date by Jan. 13, if the original ticket was purchased before Jan. 2. Those with original travel dates of Jan. 4 to 6 from central states can also reschedule for a flight leaving by Jan. 13, if the original ticket was purchased before Jan. 1. 

American Airlines is waiving fees for those who bought tickets before Jan. 1 in the specified region, are scheduled to travel from Jan. 4 to 6, and reschedule by Jan. 6 for new travel dates between Jan. 2 and 9. 

JetBlue is allowing customers to rebook flights in the affected areas, with change fees waived, through Jan. 15. Original tickets must have been purchased before Jan. 2 for travel between Jan. 4 and 6.  

Delta is offering a winter weather rebooking waiver for those who scheduled travel from Jan. 4 to 6, as well. The new flight must be booked and departing by Jan. 10, and the original ticket must have been purchased before Jan. 4.