The heavy winter storm that socked much of New England and the northeast earlier this week disrupted travel.
From Monday through early Wednesday, more than 7,500 flights were canceled, with many others delayed.
But Cleveland had an easier time, says Michele Dynia, a spokeswoman for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. She says besides not being caught in the worst thick of the storm, ground crews are generally experienced in dealing with adverse weather.
“Now with United (Airlines) dehubbing and not having as many regional jet planes going in and out of the airport here, we don’t experience as many cancellations as we would have in the past,” adds Dynia.
“The good thing about a storm of this magnitude, is the airlines had plenty of warning in advance. So they were able to do some rescheduling with passengers before the event even hit.”
Dynia says just under 100 flights were canceled at Cleveland Hopkins International.
Meanwhile, with temps going up past the freezing point, it’s easy to assume – or at least hope – that winter is giving way to a balmy, less frigid, spring.
But a regional meteorologist says don’t pack up that parka just yet. An intense cold snap is possible late next week.
Tom King of the National Weather Service bureau in Cleveland says the winter weather will moderate for a few days, but the extended forecast suggests a deep chill starting Friday of next week.
“Looks like we have one of those polar vortexes going through southern Canada and the upper Great Lakes,” King says. “Well, that’s going to bring cold air into Northern Ohio, we’ll be looking at pretty cold temperatures, with maybe highs around 10 and below zero lows.”
Last winter saw a vicious cold snap that froze and burst water pipes, disrupted travel, and affected a variety of crops in Ohio.