TRAVERSE CITY - The severe Northern Michigan winter storm forced a 48-hour shutdown at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, halting all flight operations. The closure caused widespread travel disruptions as crews struggled to manage heavy snow and dangerous tarmac conditions.
The shutdown was prompted by high winds and blowing snow that reduced visibility below the airport’s one-half mile safety minimum for flight approaches. As weather conditions begin to improve, airport leadership has transitioned crews from emergency runway clearing to general cleanup of the facility’s infrastructure.
Cherry Capital Airport CEO Kevin Klein said that while the runways were occasionally clear, atmospheric conditions prevented safe landings. “There were times when the runway was safe and everything else, however, the visibility with the blowing snow, was below what we call minimums for the approach, which is a half mile,” Klein said.
As the storm moved out of the region, airport personnel began shifting their attention toward general facility maintenance. Klein noted that the team is now working to address ground-level barriers for passengers. “You know, as this storm has lifted, we’re really focusing on trying to get that cleaned up and so those obstacles are becoming less and less as we go,” Klein said.
The heavy accumulation created significant hurdles for passengers attempting to exit the facility after landing. In addition to flight cancellations, travelers faced snow-covered vehicles and blocked parking spots that made it difficult to leave the airport grounds safely.
Laurie Greenway, a traveler who was returning home from Florida, said her vehicle was trapped in the snow upon her arrival. “He is buried in snow in the parking lot and we had to call the airport security for help,” Greenway said. “And they have several people there trying to get out of the parking lot right now.”
Flight operations are beginning to return to normal as weather conditions improve. Maintenance crews are expected to continue clearing parking lots and roadways to assist travelers currently on the ground.