now airlines are con tibd to force to cancel thousands of flights as many travelers are trying to get home. winter weather continues grounding hundreds if not thousands more. nbc news correspondent steve patterson has our report. reporter: tonight a travel nightmare forecasted for thousands of americans making the long journey home. more than a thousand flights canceled just today. we ve been in an airport since about 7:30 this morning. reporter: in seattle snow and frigid temperatures putting the airport at the top of an unenviable list, the most cancellations in the world. we re actually on the plane. at the gate. for two and a half hours. reporter: in northern california, a 51-year december sierra snowfall record shattered. thousands left without power. major highways still shut down causing massive traffic jams as officials scramble to clear the roads.