A "Bomb Cyclone" May Cause Mass Flight Disruptions On The West Coast Of The United States This Week

Are airlines ready for another disruption?


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Just a week after much of the US faced extreme cold conditions due to a bomb cyclone, the West Coast could be facing another one. While California and some other states were able to avoid brutal Christmas weather, they might be in for a tough week as meteorologists closely watch the storm. The question on many people's minds will be whether US airlines are ready for another disruption just as regular schedules are restored.

Another cyclone in the works

A bomb cyclone is a rapidly intensifying storm that is caused by a sudden drop in atmospheric pressure, creating a low-pressure area that is subject to intensifying weather events. Those in the Northeast and Midwest will be familiar with the term, having been hit with the unprecedented Winter Storm Elliott in the last week of 2022.

Now, it might be the West Coast that is up next. According to FOX Weather, Monday will see some snow and rain up and down the coast, but nothing to worry about. However, Wednesday to Friday could bring worsening conditions as the storm could create a bomb cyclone and dump several inches of snowfall and rain.

Central barometric pressure w/fall to about 960 mb, and more than qualify for the 24 mb / 24 hour "bomb" deepening rate at this latitude. This will be beautiful on satellite imagery and generate massive West Coast ocean waves. pic.twitter.com/rpnpE3p8iH — Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) January 1, 2023

While the storm is not expected to be anywhere as bad as the one faced by much of the US last week, conditions can evolve rapidly in such cases. Los Angeles and the Bay Area are both expected to get heavy rain, while snow will be present further up the coast. So, are airlines ready for this disruption?

Southwest in the spotlight

As low-cost giant Southwest slowly recovers from its Christmas and New Year's disaster, the carrier will surely be hoping to avoid any more issues this week. In a statement to Simple Flying today, the airline said it has restored its regular schedule and faced minimal delays this weekend, signaling that it should be able to handle any adverse weather events coming up. A spokesperson said,

"We appreciate the dedicated work of the Southwest Team to restore our schedule, and we have experienced minimal disruptions for the weekend. We value the continued patience and support of our valued Customers, and we apologize for the inconveniences of the past week."

With hubs in Los Angeles, San Jose, and Oakland, any impact on the West Coast would affect Southwest. However, given the criticism levied at it in the last week, the carrier is likely much better equipped to handle such issues in the future, assuming they aren't too disruptive.

Other airlines will be reviewing their operations for this week as well, trying to minimize the impact on schedules across the country. Since one aircraft can fly several legs in a day, it is important to allocate the fleet efficiently during any major weather event.

Preparing in advance

While many might be tempted to rebook or cancel their flights, airlines are yet to issue travel waivers for the storm, which is still developing and hopefully remains low intensity. If conditions worsen, it's best to talk to your airline and reroute onto any available flights and connect to the final destination, given cascading cancelation that may occur. Of course, in cases of extreme weather, follow local government advice to remain safe.