Potential Tropical Storm Philippe to Snarl East Coast Travel

An area of thunderstorms in the Caribbean could become this busy hurricane season’s next tropical storm, bringing severe weather and flight disruptions to the eastern coast of the United States later this weekend.

According to the latest forecast from Accuweather, the tropical system in the Caribbean has the potential to bring flooding and high wind to the east coast of the United States from Saturday into Monday. This area of showers and thunderstorms, which has been gathering along the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras late this week, would be named Tropical Storm Philippe if it strengthened to tropical storm status.

“While the window for development is likely to close soon, this area of downpours may still organize into a tropical depression or storm this weekend,” according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

Whether or not the Caribbean system strengthens into a tropical storm, major airlines are already issuing change waivers for airports along the east coast in anticipation of disruptions starting Sunday.

American Airlines has issued a waiver for customers flying through airports in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, on October 29. Rebooked travel must take place between October 27 and November 1 between the same city pair in the same cabin (or pay the difference.)

United Airlines has also announced it will waive the change fee and any difference in fare for customers traveling through east coast airports October 29. Rebooked flights must depart on or before November 1 between the same city pair in the originally ticketed cabin.

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