Thousands of flights delayed, canceled across U.S. as severe winter storm pushes across US

Over 2,391 flights across the United States are being cancelled Wednesday – as a powerful winter storm with blizzard conditions sweeps across a large swath of the country.

The total number including flights in and out of the U.S. was 3,841 by midday, according to online flight tracker FlightAware, with the number expected to exceed 1,500.

The Federal Aviation Administration expect a lot of the delays with be in Minnesota and other states in the Great Lakes and southern Plains.

American, Southwest and United airlines and Delta Air Lines have issued winter weather waivers for travel this week, meaning penalty fees will not be assessed for such transactions as changing or cancelling flights.

The massive storm is expected to bring record snowfall over the next few days to parts of the country including the Rockies, northern Plains and the upper Midwest.

The National Weather Service  issued a blizzard warning for parts of the western and north-central U.S, anticipating up to 2 feet of snow in some areas. Residents were warned to stay off the roads due to "whiteout conditions" that could make for treacherous travel.

Schools across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin have announced closures in anticipation of the severe weather.