[Daquan13]

The stress of trying to get from point a to point b to visit friends and relatives for the Christmas season is taking its toll on weary passengers who became hoplessly stuck at Denver Int'l Airport for the past two days.

A monster snowstorm has put a serious damper on things there, causing the airport to close, planes stuck on the ground and travelers being forced to spend the night there for at least two nights so far.

The airport there says that it will reopen today after the maintainence crew plowed snow off the runways all night, but the airlines will only allow the passengers who booked themselves on flights that are scheduled for today, get out first.

And as those passengers decrease in numbers, then the passengers that were stuck there for two nights will start to be let go on later flights. The city virtually came to a crawl with snarled traffic, cars stuck in the snow and Christmas shoppers still trying to shop. The malls remained open all night because of the storm.

In Atlanta, travelers also became stuck there at Hartfield I'nt'l Airport because of torential downpours of rain storms. All across the nation, airports are feeling the ripple effect caused by Denver being snowed in. Delays and canceled flights have been reported at most of the nation's airports. They recorded at least four feet of snow so far.

That same storm is headed for the Eastern Seaboard, but due to the unusually warm balmy temps, it will be in the form of torential rain all day on Saturday. It is aid to sart late this evening. Boston and the rest of new England will be socked with it tomorrow.

Over in London, flights there were either delayed or cancel because of heavy fog. No word on whether the conditions are there now.:yuck:

[glowrock]

There is some misinformation in that post, Daquan13. First of all, it wasn't 4 feet of snow in Denver, it was more like 2 1/2 feet. As for DIA, I believe that, as of this morning, a few flights are starting to come in and out, though obviously not anywhere near full schedule yet. Hopefully that will happen later today or tonight. As for the malls being open all night, I think that will happen tonight, but all the malls were closed from about noon on Wednesday, and just starting to open up this morning.

Hell, none of it really bothers me, though. Now my third day off of work! Yay!!! (snow's gone, blue skies outside, but the roads are terribly snowpacked and icy in many areas, plus my car isn't getting of its parking space with the snowpacked and icy conditions! :))

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

This info, or in this case, misinfo, came from the news media. They screwed it up again!!

The local network news team were the ones who said 4 feet of snow, and that the malls were already open those two nights.

Yes, they DID say that flights would start back up again, but not at or near full operating status.

But I think that it's wrong for the passengers who were already stuck there first to have to wait longer for this morning's pax to go out first, since THEY weren't stuck at the airport as long as the others were.

It was also reported there that the airport's restaurants had ran out of food from so many of the pax eating to keep from starving, but that the restaurants were replenished with more food.

[glowrock]

Yeah, the local news does tend to screw things up a bit. I knew you were just posting something you saw on a news website... ;) The airlines are in a real bind right now, either they screw over the people who have tickets for today, or they continue to make the stranded travelers' lives miserable. Not a good option, no matter how you slice it.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[urbanflyer]

But I think that it's wrong for the passengers who were already stuck there first to have to wait longer for this morning's pax to go out first, since THEY weren't stuck at the airport as long as the others were.

It's not wrong at all. The passengers ticketed for this day's flights have first priority as they hold tickets for this morning's flights. The passengers who were cancelled in previous days will have to be rebooked as best as possible. The contract of carriage involved in any airline ticket purchase entitles you to the booked day's travel only - any unforseeable circumstance is the customer's gamble, particularly with regard to weather.

[Daquan13]

The stuck passengers finally got out, but now the question is when will they receive their luggage that has piled up at the airport from one end to the other?

Some of it got on their intended flights without them aboard though.

[Daquan13]

Here they go again!!

It was on the local news weather that DIA might be socked with another snowstorm later in the week.

So glad that I don't reside there!!

[wong21fr]

Yeah, the freak snowstorm every three or four years is so much better than four months worth of black snow piled everywhere in places such as, oh.... Boston. I'll take my 300 days of sunshine, thank you.

A foot won't be bad, as long as the wind doesn't kick up too much. If not, that's what whiskey is for, those long, cold evenings.

[Daquan13]

But we don't have any snow here. We haven't even had a white Xmas.

And according to top weather analysts and figures, we're supposed to get a mild winter this year here.

And BTW; Liquor of any kind does not help you stay warm. It actually LOWERS your body temp, making you feel even colder.

Drink some hot coffee or hot chocolate instead.

[wong21fr]

Nah, I'll take my whiskey thank you very much. It's not like I am going to be anywhere that is actually cold enough to worry about.

[glowrock]

Nah, I'll take my whiskey thank you very much. It's not like I am going to be anywhere that is actually cold enough to worry about.

Hooray, alcohol! :D

I agree, wong... I'll take my liquor over hot chocolate, tea, or coffee... ;)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[glowrock]

Here they go again!!

It was on the local news weather that DIA might be socked with another snowstorm later in the week.

So glad that I don't reside there!!

I'll take Denver's winters over Boston/Manchester NH's winters any day of the week, Daquan13. This is just turning out to be a crazy early winter for us, that's all.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[ChunkyMonkey]

Not sure why Boston is getting bashed, but our winters are not so bad, it is nowhere near as cold as the midwest/Rockies due to the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and more often than not, our snows melt away.

[glowrock]

Not sure why Boston is getting bashed, but our winters are not so bad, it is nowhere near as cold as the midwest/Rockies due to the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and more often than not, our snows melt away.

Hmm, I seem to remember the winter of 1995, when Boston (and Manchester, I'm including the greater Boston/Nashua/Lawrence/Manchester area here) were socked in with something like 150+ inches of snow. And yes, I DID live there at the time, so I remember those months of terrible driving conditions, huge snowbanks, etc... etc...

Aaron (Glowrock)

[CONative]

I like this comparison -- since my brother now lives in Boston.

Boston's average temp in January is 28.6, and 30.3 in February, and 38.6 in March

Denver's average temp in January is 29.7, and 33.4 in February, and 39.0 in March. We also get much more sunny days, and have a dry cold -- instead of a more bitter cold with more humidity.

So, it looks like Boston is actually slightly colder than Denver during each winter month. Denver didn't have a white Christmas last year either. In fact, Denver had a high temperature of 72 degrees last Christmas (2005). When we do get snow, it melts quicker than any major city in the U.S. because of our dry climate and proximity to the sun. Last year we only had a total of 29 inches of snow for the entire year. This year, we have already passed that and have a few more months to go. This past week has been unprecedented in snowfall amounts and we get these type of snow storms once every 5 years -- not back-to-back like we are getting now. So, it's very unusual. The mountains get all of this snow - Denver isn't used to so much of this white stuff.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Talk about crazy, and not to get too far off topic, but PHX was shut down for a couple of hours last Saturday because of...get this...FOG! My damn plane was supposed to be at Sky Harbor by 11:30am local time but didn't get there until much later that afternoon.

Bastard weather, in the Valley of the Freaking Sun of all places! :hell:

/end off topic rant

[Daquan13]

That's the same reason that passengers were stuck in London last week.

Planes there were grounded for a while, backing up stuff and just making a mess of everything!!

[ChunkyMonkey]

Hmm, I seem to remember the winter of 1995, when Boston (and Manchester, I'm including the greater Boston/Nashua/Lawrence/Manchester area here) were socked in with something like 150+ inches of snow. And yes, I DID live there at the time, so I remember those months of terrible driving conditions, huge snowbanks, etc... etc...

Aaron (Glowrock)


Than you lived through Boston's highest snowfall record for a season (107.6” or 286% of normal), not 150". So, it is more than a little bit of an anomoly. And also, note that there it is a huge difference in snowfall between Manchester and Boston due to the proximity of the ocean. We often get rain in the 128 belt while outside will be snow.

(source: http://climatesci.atmos.colostate.edu/2006/12/04/hurricanes-and-winter-snowfall-–-how-they-are-related-by/)

On average, Denver sees about 60 inches per year while Boston sees about 42 inches. (Source: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/snowfall.html)

Also, Denver typically averages colder lows and warmer highs in the winter, but Boston's climate overall is warmer than Denver when summer is taken into consideration.

[CONative]

Than you lived through Boston's highest snowfall record for a season (107.6” or 286% of normal), not 150". So, it is more than a little bit of an anomoly. And also, note that there it is a huge difference in snowfall between Manchester and Boston due to the proximity of the ocean. We often get rain in the 128 belt while outside will be snow.

(source: http://climatesci.atmos.colostate.edu/2006/12/04/hurricanes-and-winter-snowfall-–-how-they-are-related-by/)

On average, Denver sees about 60 inches per year while Boston sees about 42 inches. (Source: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/snowfall.html)

Also, Denver typically averages colder lows and warmer highs in the winter, but Boston's climate overall is warmer than Denver when summer is taken into consideration.

Those snowfall averages are just that -- averages. Most winters, Denver will see 30 or 35 inches (last year was 30 inches), and then you have these rare and crazy El Nino type winters where 100+ inches falls in one year -- so it raises the average. Most winter days in Denver you will see no snow on the ground -- especially since everything melts so quick.

In any case, Boston's temps and Denver's temps are very similar when you average over a course of the year -- just like many cities. Denver and Boston are only a degree a part in overall yearly temp average. Cities like Chicago and Cleveland are colder overall than Denver and Boston -- but only about 1 to 2 degrees colder when you average it over the course of a year.

Forecasters nationwide are saying that this will be a crazy winter for most cities (El Nino). It will hit hard early in some areas (Denver), and then hit hard in other areas later in the winter. Travel will be a pain in the butt for the next few months nationwide. I am glad I don't travel every week for work anymore.

[glowrock]

Than you lived through Boston's highest snowfall record for a season (107.6” or 286% of normal), not 150". So, it is more than a little bit of an anomoly. And also, note that there it is a huge difference in snowfall between Manchester and Boston due to the proximity of the ocean. We often get rain in the 128 belt while outside will be snow.

(source: http://climatesci.atmos.colostate.edu/2006/12/04/hurricanes-and-winter-snowfall-–-how-they-are-related-by/)

On average, Denver sees about 60 inches per year while Boston sees about 42 inches. (Source: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/snowfall.html)

Also, Denver typically averages colder lows and warmer highs in the winter, but Boston's climate overall is warmer than Denver when summer is taken into consideration.

The 150 inches was for Manchester, but yes, it was still a pretty amazing winter. Also, when I talk about Boston, I'm talking about the WHOLE region, of which Boston proper is probably the mildest on average. Remember, I lived in Manchester, which was substantially colder and snowier in the winters.

In other words, stop taking Boston so literally, ChunkyMonkey. Hell, we could compare Downtown Denver with the western suburbs, which can sometimes be the difference between an inch of rain and a foot of snow! But anyhow, trust me, I remember seeing Logan Airport shut down for huge periods of time due to snow, heavy rain, and nearly every other major weather situation. If Logan got 2+ feet of snow with 6+ foot drifts, it would have been closed at least as long as Denver... ;)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

Another storm is over Denver as we speak.

This time, the airport is trying to get the passengers out on time before things get bad. This one could be just as bad as the one last week, if not worst.

Flights have already started being canceled again. Planes are getting snowed in and stuck in the snow.:yuck:

[glowrock]

Let the DIA bashing begin! :haha:

Seriously though, it's Mother Nature. We can't do a damn thing about her, so we've just got to deal with her as well as possible... ;)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

We could be getting some of that by New Year's Day, I think.

[Daquan13]

Edited.

[ChunkyMonkey]

In other words, stop taking Boston so literally, ChunkyMonkey. Hell, we could compare Downtown Denver with the western suburbs, which can sometimes be the difference between an inch of rain and a foot of snow! But anyhow, trust me, I remember seeing Logan Airport shut down for huge periods of time due to snow, heavy rain, and nearly every other major weather situation. If Logan got 2+ feet of snow with 6+ foot drifts, it would have been closed at least as long as Denver... ;)

Aaron (Glowrock)

So, I guess we agree that Boston and Denver are quite similar in many ways from the similar temps, similar snows, and the fact that city often doesn't get as much snow as the suburbs. I guess Boston is not as bad a place to live in as Denver ;)

[glowrock]

Chunky, you're acting like an idiot. Besides, you live in my third favorite city in this country. I live in my second favorite city, and then San Diego's my first. Hmm, two of these places aren't like the other, eh? :D

Anyhow, this whole discussion is about stranded passengers at airports. So in that regard, believe me, with weather like we've had the last week or so, Logan would be just as screwed, I'll personally guarantee it. MHT would probably be screwed as well, but it's a MUCH smaller airport (albeit with a large Southwest Airlines presence), so perhaps the snow removal issues aren't quite as great...



Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

Not only just Logan, but it has a rippling effect across the country whenever a city is crippled by bad weather.

It happened with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well.

[glowrock]

Oh absolutely, Daquan13... Same for O'Hare, Dulles, Philly, Baltimore, Cleveland, and every other large airport that's prone to get the occasional blizzard! Why people seem to expect airports to be fully operational during a blizzard is beyond me, really. What sucked about DIA's situation was that it was a few days before Christmas, during one of the busiest times of the year at the airport, and people were really desperately trying to get to and from home for the holidays. Just bad timing, that's all.

Thankfully, this latest storm hasn't been like last week's storm. About a foot and a half on my side of town, but probably less out east near the airport.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

Oh absolutely, Daquan13... Same for O'Hare, Dulles, Philly, Baltimore, Cleveland, and every other large airport that's prone to get the occasional blizzard! Why people seem to expect airports to be fully operational during a blizzard is beyond me, really. What sucked about DIA's situation was that it was a few days before Christmas, during one of the busiest times of the year at the airport, and people were really desperately trying to get to and from home for the holidays. Just bad timing, that's all.

Thankfully, this latest storm hasn't been like last week's storm. About a foot and a half on my side of town, but probably less out east near the airport.

Aaron (Glowrock)



Seems as though they are in the same predicament again like last week. It's just a few days before New Year's and people are again stuck in Denver because of a snowstorm.

United had a flight come in from there, but they canceled an outbound flight that was supposed to go back there.

[glowrock]

Not really, Daquan13. DIA never closed during this storm, period. United and Frontier canceled a lot of flights, but nearly all flights are on for tomorrow and Sunday, unless something really odd happens, like the storm backing back up and dumping on DIA once again.

MOST people didn't get stuck in Denver this time. Only a few people stayed at the airport last night, and those people weren't really stranded, as Pena Blvd. was open the entire time, so they could have left if they wanted to/had a place to stay.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[CONative]

The storm has basically left Denver and we only got 8 more official inches total for this storm. The airport has 5 out of 6 runways open and flights have been taking off all day. The airport is reporting that tomorrow morning all flights will be on schedule and none will be cancelled.

[Daquan13]

Not really, Daquan13. DIA never closed during this storm, period. United and Frontier canceled a lot of flights, but nearly all flights are on for tomorrow and Sunday, unless something really odd happens, like the storm backing back up and dumping on DIA once again.

MOST people didn't get stuck in Denver this time. Only a few people stayed at the airport last night, and those people weren't really stranded, as Pena Blvd. was open the entire time, so they could have left if they wanted to/had a place to stay.

Aaron (Glowrock)



One highway there WAS closed for a while.

Yes, THIS storm doesn't seem as intense or as monstrous as the one that occured last week. Which is probably why the airport never closed this time.:cheers:

[wong21fr]

What does I-70 closing have to do with the airport not closing?

[Daquan13]

Well, I can't help what I hear on the news now, can I?

Even though the airport didn't close this time, some flights were cxld and others delayed.

And I-70 was closed due to the storm, so still, both were crippled due to the weather, don't you think?

[CONative]

Fact is...Denver International Airport has one of the nation's best on time departures and arrivals among large airports, and that includes when we have these rare snow storms.

[glowrock]

Well, I can't help what I hear on the news now, can I?

Even though the airport didn't close this time, some flights were cxld and others delayed.

And I-70 was closed due to the storm, so still, both were crippled due to the weather, don't you think?

I think you need to stop paying attention to whatever sources you're getting your information from, Daquan13. I-70's closing has nothing to do whatsoever with DIA, nothing in the least bit. So what? Some flights were cancelled? The freaking HORROR!!!! :eek:

For god's sake, this is getting very old.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

I never once said that I-70's closing had anything to do with the airport, now did I? Please don't assume that.

Just that it WAS closed because of the snowstorm. Bottom line: Nothing would have been crippled there if it wern't for the storm.

And it's not my fault if the media screws up. Where else am I supposed to get info from? If it's getting old, then please
stop adding to it.

[Zerton]

I just drove from Taos to here (Dallas). 16 hours b/c of the weather. Lots of car wrecks along the way.

[Daquan13]

I heard on the weather that Denver was in for another snowstorm.

Any truth to that?

[glowrock]

I have no idea, honestly. We just got about 4-12 inches yesterday from a "minor" storm. I've heard rumors about another storm later next week, but until a few days out, I still consider them just rumors... ;)

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Daquan13]

There was an avalanche there in the higher mountains over the weekend.

Though some were buried, they were rescued right away and no one was hurt or killed.