Punta Gorda travelers brace for winter storm

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - A powerful winter storm has been causing significant disruptions across the Midwest and Upper Midwest, affecting travel plans for many. Snow and dangerous road conditions have led to canceled events and flight delays.

Passengers at Punta Gorda Airport are navigating their travel plans. Some travelers are heading straight into the storm, while others are hesitant.

"The weather is not good there. The weather right now is probably about zero degrees, and we have almost 10 inches of snow," said Cathy Notle, who is traveling to Illinois.

Allegiant, the primary airline operating out of Punta Gorda, issued a travel alert warning passengers that flights to Indiana, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania may face the most disruptions.

"We have heard there's anywhere from eight to 12 or more inches of snow awaiting us when we get back and cold weather and heavy winds and drifting. We've been checking it religiously ever since we could. And unless something changes, I think we're going to head home," said Phil Carson, another traveler.

According to FlightAware, a real-time flight tracking service, airlines across the country have canceled more than 11,000 flights through the weekend.

"I don't really want to land on a runway at 200 miles an hour if it's slick," said Mark Games, who was supposed to fly to St. Louis for a conference.

Games' conference was canceled due to the snow, and although his flight is still listed as on time, he expressed discomfort with flying in such conditions.

"There's been accidents on some of the bridges across the Mississippi River, so that's shut down. So it's just literally kind of like the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles," said Games.

For some travelers, the snow and cold are just part of going home.

"I like to shovel," said Caleb Becker.

"I can't wait to get back and go ice fishing, walking on water," said Bob Braucher.