Storms, air traffic controller-related delays could deliver a 1-2 punch for travelers
(Update: Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump agreed to restore normal federal government operations until Feb. 15 and begin paying federal workers while border-related negotiations proceeded.)
Upcoming storms in the Midwest and Northeast figure to compound government shutdown-related problems for airline travelers this weekend and into next week.
On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted flights into New York's LaGuardia Airport due to air traffic control staffing issues, according to CNBC. The difficulties are a result of the longest government shutdown in American history.
Delays also were reported at Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, with the possibility of a ripple effect at other airports around the country.
A storm beginning Sunday will lay a swath of snow, leading to slippery travel and disruptions to daily routines across the midwestern United States, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
An air traffic controller works in the tower at Newark Liberty International Airport. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Following that storm, the polar vortex is expected to plunge down to near the upper Great Lakes, leading to temperatures 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across the Midwest during the middle of next week. There may be one or two days of subzero highs from Fargo to Minneapolis and Chicago, with highs in the single digits and teens from St. Louis to Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
Friday is the 35th day of the partial government shutdown, during which 425,000 federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration screeners and air traffic controllers, have been deemed essential and have been told to work even though they won't be paid until the shutdown is resolved.
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