More than 180 million people are on alert for a massive weekend storm that stretches from New Mexico to Maine, and is expected to paralyze the South with dangerous ice and snow.
More than 2,300 flights within, into or out of the U.S. scheduled for Saturday have now been canceled ahead of the storm, with Dallas' two airports hit the hardest.
Travelers at LAX said they adjusted their plans in anticipation of worsening weather. Chris Lehman, who was traveling back to Cincinnati, said his wife had already begun preparing for the storm.
"She was buying lanterns and batteries and all kinds of things to be able to survive a blackout," Lehman said.
Lehman said he made sure to take a flight Friday to avoid any potential cancellations Saturday.
"I did want to try and get out there as soon as I could," he said. "There's nothing like coming home, so you know, hopefully I can get home tonight and hopefully I can get back."
The storm has already triggered widespread travel chaos.
Some travelers opted to leave earlier to avoid delays. Debi Shaha, who was traveling to Chicago, said she was relieved her flight was still on schedule.
"I can't wait to go home right now because I cannot be a part of this delay and wait forever at the airport. It's a hassle," Shaha said.
Forecasters warned the weather could lead to catastrophic damage.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the most affected airport, with more than 1,100 cancellations reported. Other major airports experiencing significant disruptions include Nashville, Atlanta and Denver.
ABC News contributed to this report.