The launch of the Green New Deal resolution sparked significant criticism for supposedly proposing that high-speed trains could be used to replace air travel and its carbon pollution.

House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) claimed the Green New Deal — a plan to rapidly decarbonize the entire economy — would “outlaw plane travel.”

But while the resolution, introduced this month by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), makes no such claim, it does fail to consider a game-changing technology for cutting the carbon pollution caused by air travel while still traveling by air: electric planes.

As one of its major goals, the resolution proposes “overhauling transportation systems… to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible, including through investment in” zero-emission vehicles, mass transit, and “high-speed rail.”

It’s true that a “frequently asked questions” document that was briefly posted on Ocasio-Cortez’s website contained language suggesting bullet trains could ultimately replace domestic air travel. But the document was quickly removed, and Ocasio-Cortez said it was a “draft” that never should have been posted.

Still, that was enough for conservative commentators to seize upon when criticizing the resolution. New York Times columnist David Brooks, for instance, wrote that “the authors of the Green New Deal assume that technocratic planners can master the movements of 328 million Americans and design a transportation system so that ‘air travel stops becoming necessary.’”

He then quipped, “This is from people who couldn’t even organize the successful release of their own background document.”

But if we’re going to criticize the Green New Deal it should be for failing to recognize that the battery advances that jump-started the electric car revolution in the last several years have also turned the ignition on electric air travel.

Battery packs are rapidly getting both cheaper and smaller. As a result, there were “130 publicly known electrically propelled aircraft programs as of October 2018,” according to consulting firm Roland Berger.

In June, Norway tested a two-seat electric plane and anticipates starting passenger flights on electric planes by 2025. The country, also a leader in the use of electric vehicles, is aiming for all short-haul air travel to be completely electric by 2040.

Seattle-based airplane manufacturer Zunum Aero, which is backed by both Boeing and JetBlue, is developing a six to 12 seat, 700-mile range hybrid-electric aircraft to begin selling in 2020. Zunum Aero also plans to create a 50-seat 1,000-mile aircraft for the mid-2020s, and then a 100-seat, 1,500 mile aircraft (capable of over 500 miles per hour) by 2030.

Airbus itself is pursuing a hybrid-electric aircraft that can carry 100 passengers 600 miles — from New York City to Detroit — by 2030, the BBC reported last year.

Hybrid systems have both electric motors that run off of batteries and combustion engines that burn fossil fuels. In a hybrid airplane system, the electric drive allows the combustion turbines to be smaller and operated near their maximum efficiency all the time (which is quite similar to the role the electric drive plays in a hybrid car like the Prius). Reliance on these types of driving systems during takeoff and landing helps make the airplane much quieter.

While the hybrid-electric drives on airplanes can reduce fuel use by one quarter, the plan is to introduce better and smaller lithium-ion batteries as the technology improves, leading to full electrification of aircraft. And the next generation of batteries that could be available by the mid-2020s hold the promise of carrying two and a half times the energy of existing batteries — at one third the cost.

Oil and car companies are suddenly investing in electric vehicles. Here’s why.

As gasoline prices soar, electric vehicles shift into high gear.

Zunum’s CEO and founder Ashish Kumar says their “roadmap would place aviation on path to eliminate all short-haul emissions by 2040, equating to 50 percent of all emissions from the sector, aligned with the goal set by Norway.”

High-speed rail is definitely worth investing in, but whatever Green New Deal legislation ultimately emerges should be placing a very large bet on electrifying air travel as well.

Feb 5: A Virgin Atlantic flight comes in for a landing above other taxiing aircraft, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle.  (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles to London reached the ground speed of 801 mph with the help of strong winds, according to reports.

The blistering speed was reached while at 35,000 feet above Pennsylvania. The Boeing 787 twin-jet aircraft was given a boost by a furious jet stream, the high-altitude air current along which storms travel.

“[N]ever ever seen this kind of tailwind in my life as a commercial pilot,” tweeted Peter James, a jet captain.

Monday’s record was above the speed of sound– which is 767 mph– however, whether air travel breaks the sound barrier is dependent on its airspeed, not ground speed. Commercial aircraft are not designed to fly at supersonic speeds.

The Virgin Atlantic flight arrived in London 48 minutes early. The Boeing 787 airliner has reached top speeds of 776 mph before and has a cruising speed of around 561 mph, the Washington Post reported.

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Several other high speeds were recorded Monday. A flight from Los Angeles to New York City hit 678 mph at 39,000 feet over Ohio, while a 737 aircraft en route from Chicago to New York passed 700 mph Tuesday morning.

The jet stream was so strong, flight times from Dallas to Boston dipped below three hours.

A massive winter storm created travel and commuting trouble for almost 200 million people in as many as 39 states Wednesday.

The system dumped rain, snow and ice across the South, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.

By 12:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, almost 2,000 flights had been canceled and more than 2,700 flights had been delayed, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday reported 316 canceled flight arrivals and departures; LaGuardia Airport had 255 cancellations; and Newark Liberty International Airport reported 205 canceled flights.

In Nebraska, several people were injured, including one with life-threatening injuries, after crashes involving nine semis and two passenger vehicles, and the weather played a role, the state patrol said.

Nine semis and two passenger vehicles were involved in multiple crashes on I-80 near mile marker 328 this morning just after 9:00.

There were multiple injuries. Our thoughts are with those affected.

Details: https://t.co/8Io1N6pPwF pic.twitter.com/yW9lWWSbTO

— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol) February 20, 2019

Two tractor-trailers crashed and jackknifed on Interstate 80 in Hamilton County around 9 a.m. Wednesday, and other vehicles, including a Jeep Cherokee, were involved in a chain reaction crash. Then a pair of semis came upon that crash scene and were unable to stop and one struck the other, pushing it into the Jeep, the state patrol said.

A passenger in the Jeep, Jason Palmer, 29, of Indiana, was airlifted to a hospital in Kearney with life threatening injuries, according to the agency. The driver of the Jeep was treated and released, and a semi’s driver also suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the state patrol said.

Snow and a wintry mix is expected to hit the northern mid-Atlantic states and the Great Lakes and Northeast on Wednesday evening, and rain is expected across much of the Deep South through Friday evening, the National Weather Service said.

Flash flood watches stretched from western Tennessee and northern Mississippi to northern Georgia and in parts of West Virginia, and winter weather advisories or warnings covered a swath of the nation from northern Minnesota to Maine.

More than 10 inches of snow was reported in parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the Minneapolis area saw more than 8 inches, according to the weather service. In parts of central and Pennsylvania, ice between 0.12 inches and 0.25 inches was reported Wednesday evening. Parts of Mississippi had gotten around 3 inches of rain over 24 hours as of Wednesday afternoon.

Parts of Connecticut, the New York City metro area and New Jersey were under a winter weather advisory through 6 a.m. Thursday, the agency said.

Even before the storm arrived Wednesday, officials were calling for caution. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency effective at 5 a.m. Wednesday. “We are urging residents of New Jersey to drive with caution and use their best judgment during this time,” he said in a statement.

New York City’s Emergency Management Department also issued an advisory. “We are expecting snow and sleet to develop in the afternoon, causing for a messy evening commute,” emergency management commissioner Joseph Esposito said in a statement. “We advise you to use mass transit, give yourself extra travel time and exercise caution.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf urged motorists to stay home. “This storm could bring with it a travel mess, and so I encourage everyone who can stay off the roads to do so tomorrow.” All Philadelphia public schools were closed Wednesday.

The state’s Department of Transportation issued a commercial vehicle ban for certain roads that was to last “through the storm,” according to a statement.

The sub-freezing temperatures also prompted preparations for the homeless.

In Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced the activation of a “Code Blue” alert that signals sub-freezing temperatures and the opening of emergency shelters. In Washington, city officials declared a “cold emergency” and asked residents to report homeless people in need of shelter.

In the snowy Midwest, the roads proved treacherous for drivers.

The Nebraska State Patrol said Wednesday afternoon that in the last 24 hours, troopers responded to 30 crashes, including the large one involving tractor-trailers near Aurora, and 166 calls to assist motorists, and other calls. The total number of weather-related events handled by the patrol was more than 200, the agency said.

The Minnesota State Patrol tweeted that it responded to 140 crashes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 16 of which involved injuries but none of which were serious. It said 216 vehicles spun out or went off the road, and three semis jackknifed. It urged people to slow down and increase following distances.

Although hundreds of flights were canceled Wednesday, the travel headache caused by the storm had already affected air travelers Tuesday.

American Airlines issued a “travel alert” and canceled 280 flights, mostly involving smaller aircraft that use regional airports, scheduled for Wednesday.

Southwest Airlines warned in a statement of delayed, diverted or canceled flights in the Ohio Valley and in the Northeast on Wednesday. Travelers using airports in Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia and Washington could be affected, the airline said.

And in Washington, Ronald Reagan National Airport appeared to suggest that travelers think twice about flying at all. “Several airlines have waived change fees for customers wishing to proactively rebook their flight to avoid tomorrow’s winter storm,” the airport tweeted.

“Travel anymore is not easy, so you expect the unexpected,” Stacy Flye, who was trying to get home from Reagan airport to Florida, told the Associated Press. “And you know, we knew the weather was going to be bad, but sometimes you just have to take your chances.”

Dennis Romero writes for NBC News and is based in Los Angeles.

Kalhan Rosenblatt

Kalhan Rosenblatt is a reporter for NBC News, based in New York.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Jonathan Kent, Business Editor

• Broad commitment: environmental organisations hope others follow PwC Bermuda’s example (Graphic by PwC Bermuda)

• Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda leader

Related Stories

PwC Bermuda is to shrink its environmental impact through a combination of efficient practices and a commitment to offset 100 per cent of its air travel emissions and energy consumption.

A carbon offset is a way to compensate for emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere.

Environmental organisations and the Government voiced support for PwCs actions and expressed hopes that other companies would follow suit.

Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda leader, said: Climate change and resource scarcity are major forces shaping our future. Without real and lasting global action, average temperatures are predicted by scientists to increase by more than two degrees Celsius, a threshold at which they believe potentially irreversible environmental changes will occur.

Our people rightly demand that we take a leadership position in this area.

Avoiding or reducing emissions associated with our energy use is the starting point of our strategy. Over the course of the last few years we have taken many actions to reduce our absolute carbon impact.

In late 2017, PwC moved into new offices on the fourth floor of Washington House, on Church Street, an upgrade that helped the firm reduce its carbon footprint by half.

We continue to work hard to drive this down further through elimination of single-use plastic at our office and events, digitising our processes and recycling, Mr Wightman said.

While our priority is reducing our absolute carbon impact, offsetting is an important part of our strategy to mitigate the impact of our unavoidable emissions. The greatest impacts from operating our business come from the energy we use to power our offices and our air travel.

This is why we have decided to take the extra steps of offsetting air travel emissions and to sourcing renewables for our electricity consumption wherever possible and offsetting residual energy use.

We believe business has a key role to play in solving societal challenges alongside other stakeholders. These commitments are, for us, a recognition of the need to accelerate the pace of change. Individual business commitments, collectively, will make a critical difference to that.

Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, praised PwCs environmental efforts.

These initiatives are all very meaningful, tackling a broad range of environmental issues from the reduction in energy and paper usage to the elimination of single-use plastics in the workplace, Mr Roban said.

These business practices provide excellent examples of what can be done to reduce human impacts on the natural world, while at the same time improving the work environment for employees and business efficiencies.

The Government was committed to eliminating single-use plastics by 2022 and had also pledged to promote energy conservation and use more renewable energy, he added.

We hope more companies will implement an efficiency plan such as that of PwC Bermuda, Mr Roban said.

Eugene Dean, Greenrock chairman, said PwCs environmental commitments proved that the actions required to address climate change and reduce our impact on the environment were diverse, achievable and accessible to us all.

Changing mindsets requires leadership and PwCs willingness to act means that they now possess the potential to inspire countless others to do the same, Mr Dean said.

Some actions require us to change simple behaviours while others require sizeable investments that reap benefits over time. Some actions may seem far less convenient initially, however we ultimately derive satisfaction from the knowledge that we are doing something inherently good.

At Greenrock, we focus on education that encourages conscientiousness and inspires action that leads to positive change.

Kim Smith, BEST executive director, said her organisation aimed to promote the idea of human activities being designed and carried out in harmony with nature and not in competition with it.

I am absolutely convinced that a disregard for the impact of our activities on the environment will come back to haunt us, Ms Smith said.

She added: BEST applauds the good example of PwC as they work to make tangible changes to their processes and policies, in recognition of the impact on the environment of their business activities. Their willingness to take a lead role with this initiative is a reflection of their corporate values, and employees of PwC can be proud to work for such a socially conscious and committed organisation.

Anne Hyde, Keep Bermuda Beautiful executive director, said: We applaud PwC for taking the lead and setting the example to sustainably reduce solid waste and eliminate single-use plastics from their office and PwC events.

During the Americas Cup finals in Bermuda in 2017, PwC and KBB were represented on the Legacy and Sustainability Committee.

Ms Hyde said: We were shoved onto the worlds stage to produce Bermudas biggest event which was set to the highest standards for economic, social and environmental sustainability.

PwC picked up the ball and ran with it, and we are delighted to see, they are still running with it. PwC staff have educated themselves on concepts that might normally fall outside the realm of chartered accountants.

We hope that this will be a catalyst for more businesses to follow suit.

Any local businesses can contact KBB for assistance with matters including waste reduction, reuse and recycling, Ms Hyde added.

The PwC global network has joined the RE100 initiative of over 150 global businesses dedicated to growing the global demand for renewable energy, led by The Climate Group, an international non-profit, whose mission is accelerating climate action.

In selecting carbon-offsetting investments, PwC member firms will aim to reflect local priorities. Its offsets are verified by an independent third party to an established standard or protocol.

We may submit local projects to vet for future investment, PwC added.

Through these projects, PwC globally is projected to have collectively impacted nearly three million people worldwide, protected or restored 656,000 hectares of forest, generated 209,000 MWh of clean energy and created over 570 new full-time jobs.

Bob Moritz, global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd, said: The worlds current economic model is pushing beyond the limits of the planets ability to cope. And healthy environmental ecosystems are critical to healthy economies. Its time to accelerate the pace of change.

PwC Bermudas environmentally friendly features and culture includes the following.

Energy-efficient features: central energy management system, energy recovery ventilators, groundwater cooling for 24-hour data rooms, central atrium for natural lighting in offices, rainwater collection for over half of potable water supply, low-e glazing coated with SolarBan 60 for low solar heat gain.

Plastics: No single-use plastic items in our office kitchens; no single-use plastic water bottles at PwC Bermuda corporate and social events; we build awareness of the plastics issue among our employees and encourage behaviours that help tackle plastic pollution, including recycling, reusing, and annual park and beach clean-ups.

Paper: shift towards using less paper and more information in digital format, energy-efficient printers set to default to double-sided printing, office paper, paper waste and printing cartridges all recycled, central recycling hubs for all office waste with all desk-side trash bins removed.

Electronics: laptops and mobile phones returned when employees leave the firm are reused, refurbish and donate disused laptops and equipment, we only hand out IT accessories (mice, laptop bags, etc) on request, encouraging our people to use those already issued.

Technology: our adoption of Google Gmail and the G Suite of tools in 2018 enables us to work in a more agile, efficient and innovative way. Teams can easily connect with one another online or on their mobile phones using Google Hangouts, allowing our people to take advantage of work-from-home and flex-time policies as well as reduce international business travel.

For more information on PwCs approach to corporate responsibility, visit https://tinyurl.com/y6adp5eo

Published Feb 22, 2019 at 8:00 am
(Updated Feb 22, 2019 at 3:14 pm)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A winter storm is disrupting air travel in the mid-Atlantic region.

FlightAware.com shows Reagan National Airport leading the country in cancellations Wednesday morning, with 37 percent of departures and 33 percent of arrivals canceled.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is seeing about 32 percent of departures and 31 percent of arrivals canceled. Dulles International Airport is seeing about 26 percent of departures and 23 percent of arrivals canceled.

Christina Saull, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Reagan and Dulles, says many airlines canceled flights ahead of the storm. Still, Saull says the runways are open and flights are taking off.

BWI spokesman Jonathan Dean says the snow team has been treating and clearing the airfield and despite delays and cancellations, flights are continuing.

The winter storms effects caused several departing and arriving flights at Norfolk International Airport to be delayed or cancelled Wednesday morning.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NEW DELHI: Personnel of the paramilitary forces deployed in the Kashmir Valley for counter-terror operations have been entitled by the government on Thursday to take commercial flights to either join duty or go on leave, in the wake of the killing of 40 jawans in a deadly attack on their convoy in Pulwama.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order saying it “has approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)”.

This includes, the order said, their journey for joining duty, transfer, tour or going on leave.

Till now, officers in the rank of Inspectors and above were given this air travel facility.

As many as 65,000 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are deployed in the state as part of 65 battalions apart from units of the Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and the National Security Guard present in the Kashmir valley for rendering a variety of roles in the internal security grid.

The decision of the government comes in the wake of the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 personnel of the CRPF were killed when a explosives-laden vehicle was blown off by a JeM terrorist, near a force bus that was plying between Jammu-Srinagar as part of a convoy.

Questions were raised as to why these troops are not allowed to travel by air so that the risk and threat of travelling on road, in large convoys in the Kashmir Valley, is eliminated.

A senior official said jawans and sub-officers, the ranks who were killed in the suicide attack in Pulwama, will now be able to book tickets in regular commercial flights and claim reimbursement from their organisation or force for this travel to and from Kashmir.

The home ministry said the new facility is “in addition” to the existing air courier services for CAPFs where an entire aircraft is booked for the force personnel from either Delhi or Jammu to Srinagar and back.

A statement on Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s official Twitter handle said the decision will “immediately benefit approximately 7.8 lakh paramilitary personnel of the ranks of constable, head constable and assistant sub-inspector who were otherwise not eligible earlier”.

The ministry said that for the Jammu and Kashmir sector, an air courier service was already available for CAPFs jawans and this was extended in December, 2017 to cover more routes like: Delhi-Jammu, Jammu-Srinagar, Srinagar-Jammu and Jammu-Delhi.

“The number of flights were further extended in December, 2018. In addition, air support is provided from the Indian Air Force as and when required,” it said in a statement.

A senior official said the step will allow more and more personnel to undertake air travel to and from Kashmir but the requirement of running convoys of the security forces cannot be brought to zero.

Air travel. It’s great in theory, but can be stressful in practice. Between long queues, stodgy plane food and uncomfortable seats, the whole experience can sometimes leave you wishing you had just stayed home.

With that in mind, an avid flyer by the name of Taha Khan has taken to Twitter to dispense pearls of wisdom for those of us who find the whole thing to be a bit of an ordeal.

“I fly a lot,” Khan’s sermon began. “A thread of what I learned.” Over the course of six tweets, he shared 20 tips on how to become a ruthlessly efficient flyer. After all, it’s every man for himself at the airport.

Packing

On packing, Khan recommends never checking a bag and packing 10 days’ worth of clothes, regardless of whether or not your trip is longer. Investing in good bags is also essential. Khan’s preferred bags for travelling are an Away suitcase and Peak Design Everyday Backpack.

Getting to the airport

For those who fret about getting to the airport on time, Khan advises “arriving 1.5 hours before an international flight is fine” during school term.

Security

When it comes to security, Khan recommends removing your belt, shoes and jackets. “Even if they don’t ask, it saves you any trouble,” he says. Likewise, keeping electronic items on your person in a backpack or handbag is a must. After all, “Repacking your suitcase after an inspection is a nightmare.”

Oh, and the cardinal rule of flying? Keep your passport on you from start to finish. They’re pocket-sized for a reason, you know.

Pre-boarding

Chance your arm and you never know where it might land you. Khan advises asking for an upgrade at the gate every time. “Sometimes they’re really cheap,” he notes.

Flight

Now this is where Khan’s tips really come in handy. First of all, he is opposed to neck pillows and advises making do with an eye mask instead. Noise cancelling headphones, portable power banks and anti-bacterial wipes are also essential.

Snacks like MMs and Skittles will tide you over. His tip for feeling semi-human? “Orange juice is magic. It makes you feel alive again. Bring your own, theirs is sugar water.”

As cabin pressure and lack of movement is bad for circulation, Khan recommends “regular stretches and movement” to prevent aching. Counteract the effects of dry cabin air by “[moisturising] skin and lips often”.

Finally, don’t be tempted by the inflight entertainment. “Watching films dries your eyes quickly, you’ll feel rough afterwards,” says Khan. “Podcasts, music audiobooks are better.”

Arriving

Once you land, Khan recommends speed walking to passport control. “You save a minute of queuing for every person you pass,” he says. Well that’s one way of looking at it.

Should you encounter any difficulties upon landing, he recommends having a shortcut set up to alert someone. “This is especially important for non-white people,” he adds.

The aftermath

For those returning from a longhaul flight, Khan says jetlag will usually kick in on the second night. He recommends melatonin as a sleep aid, which is only available by prescription in Ireland.

His final tip?

“Being patient, smiley friendly go a long way.”

Underneath the thread, people weighed in with their own tips for air travel. One user recommended always selecting an aisle seat when on a flight with three seats to a row. “This allows you easy access to get up and stretch during long flights without having to disturb your seat companions,” they noted.

Another intrepid traveller advised travelling with your own teabags and instant porridge. “Just ask for hot water,” he said.

Finally, one gentleman advised using the bathroom at the beginning of the flight or right when you board the flight. “It’s as clean as it will ever be, and there’s no line,” he said.

Truer words were never spoken.

On Monday night, the river of air 35,000 feet above the New York City area, known as the jet stream, clocked in at a blazing 231 mph. This is the fastest jet stream on record since 1957 for the National Weather Service in Upton, New York — breaking the old record of 223 mph, according to NWS forecaster Carlie Buccola.

This wind provided a turbo boost to commercial passenger planes along for the ride. With the help of this rapid tailwind, Virgin Atlantic Flight 8 from Los Angeles to London hit what could be a record high speed for a Boeing 787: 801 mph over Pennsylvania at 9:20 p.m. Monday night.

“Wow, that’s fast,” a Boeing spokesman told CBS News via email. But it’s not something the plane manufacturer tracks, so they can’t confirm if 801 mph is a record.

“The typical cruising speed of the Dreamliner is 561 mph,” CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave points out. “The past record for the 787 is 776 mph set in January 2017 by a Norwegian 787-9 flying from JFK to London Gatwick. That flight set a record for the fastest subsonic transatlantic commercial airline flight — 5 hours and 13 minutes, thanks to a 202 mph tailwind.”

For reference, the speed of sound is 760 mph; but the plane did not break the sound barrier. That’s because part of the plane’s speed is attributed to the swiftly moving 200 mph+ air surrounding the plane. So relative to the air around it, the plane’s speed falls far short.

Jet streams like the one Monday can have a big impact on flights.

“A 100 mph increase in the jet stream above typical can add or remove about an hour from a five to six hour flight,” according to a spokesperson from FlightAware, a global aviation software and data services company based in Houston.

While you might be pleasantly surprised by an early arrival going eastbound, you’re likely to face delays westbound battling the powerful headwind. While winds of this magnitude do affect air travel, FlightAware said changes in the upper level winds are accounted for.

“The estimated jet stream winds are accounted for in flight planning, and even before that in scheduling you’ll see longer block times westbound than eastbound,” FlightAware points out.

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In the interactive map above, created by Cameron Beccario, the jet stream intensity can be viewed (updated every three hours).

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What’s causing the record jet stream?

The record jet stream winds were not only confined to the New York City area, it was a common theme all over the Northeast because of a unique confluence of events.

It all started in the Pacific Ocean: Just last week NOAA declared an official El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño is a warming of the equatorial sea surface temperatures which can have repercussions thousands of miles away. It is partly responsible for the recent wicked weather in California last week.

“The last couple weeks the atmosphere has been in a much more El Niño-like state because it’s teaming up with another natural climate phenomena known as the MJO,” said Dr. Adam Sobel, professor of applied physics at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. “The MJO is associated with clusters of thunderstorms and bursts of westerly winds.”

As a result of this energetic mix, twin cyclones have formed in the central Pacific and all this activity is spawning an unusually powerful sub-tropical jet stream across Mexico and into the southern U.S.

At the same time, a vigorous polar jet stream in Alaska is splitting into two branches along the Pacific Coast. One is heading east through the Great Lakes, while the other heads south into California and then turns east into the Ohio Valley.

The end result is all three jet streams — along with an assist from the polar vortex — are now merging in the Northeast. This is boosting an otherwise strong jet stream, into a record breaking one.

The confluence of events is much more easily understood by looking at the following illustration:

The moist and energetic jet stream will remain in place through the weekend. As a result, dangerous flooding is possible across parts of the Mississippi and Tennessee Valley with a widespread 5-10 inches of rain possible in some areas.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the winter storm causing travel headaches in the Upper Midwest (all times local):

10:50 a.m.

Runways at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were temporarily closed as fast-falling snow from the latest winter storm tested plow drivers who tried to keep up.

MSP spokesman John Welbes says “the rate of snowfall is the challenge.” Forecasters expected snowfall rates of an inch per hour with accumulations of up to 10 inches.

Minneapolis and St. Paul schools are among the scores of districts in Minnesota, Wisconsin and elsewhere that canceled classes Wednesday.

———

6:11 a.m.

Forecasters are warning residents in parts of Minnesota and western Wisconsin the advancing winter storm could produce up to 9 inches of snow.

Minneapolis and St. Paul schools are among scores of districts that canceled classes Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for much of central and southern Minnesota, through eastern South Dakota and into western Wisconsin.

The Twin Cities is in store for its snowiest February on record by the time the storm subsides. The area already has 22.6 inches of snow this month. Wednesday’s snowfall will likely break a record of 26.5 inches in February set back in 1962.

The heaviest accumulation is expected Wednesday morning when snowfall rates of an inch per hour were expected.