Winter storm impacting travel for thousands across United States

A massive winter storm is impacting travel plans for millions of Americans ahead of Christmas, causing cancellations and delays at airports across the nation, even in sunny Southern California.

While Los Angeles International Airport reports an estimated 200,000 passengers every day through the first of the new year, it's unclear just how many will get to fly in or out of the popular hub due to the storm so big, it even got President Joe Biden's attention on Thursday. 

"Please, take this storm extremely seriously," he said in a video. "I don't know if your bosses will let you, but if you all have travel plans — leave now."

Even as the Southland heads for one of the warmest Christmas Days on record, millions of others across the United States are being subject to the arctic blast which has brought record-lows, snow and extreme weather at the hands of the latest winter storm. 

Constant bumper-to-bumper traffic could be seen outside of the terminals at LAX, as friends and family members drop off and pick up loved ones heading out for the holidays. 

"We're trying to get home and two flights have been canceled so far for Southwest," said Lawrence Humphreys, a traveler. "I just got a flight for tonight but I don't know if that's looking very likely." 

LAX officials said they were doing everything possible to make sure there were not long lines on the ground at security and check-in, also noting that the airport has the newest and most advanced baggage handling system in the country at the Tom Bradley terminal. 

The backlogged flights have even caused some Americans to cancel their own plans and jump in the car, hoping to head out on what AAA expects to be clogged freeways throughout the weekend. 

They're estimating that 102 million Californians will hit the road in coming days, creating an inevitable Carmaggedon-like nightmare situation for travelers. 

On top of that, experts have also predicted how many times they expect to head out to assist stranded drivers, just another factor that could create heavy traffic. 

"Across California over the next 11 days, AAA anticipates coming to the roadside rescue of 256,000 stranded drivers," said AAA spokesman Doug Shupe. 

According to data from Inrix, the worst traffic times in coming days will be:

• Friday evening (Dec. 23) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
• Monday afternoon (Dec. 26) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.,
• Monday evening (Jan. 2) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

They also said the worst road to travel on would be the the 5 Freeway, especially on Tuesday, Dec. 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.