The massive winter storm set to hit states across the country has caused more than 15,000 flight disruptions as Americans brace for snow, ice and low temperatures.

As of 5:40 a.m. on Saturday, the website FlightAware.com, which provides real-time data on flight disruptions, noted that nearly 10,000 flights had been canceled through Monday with another 5,000 being delayed.

American Airlines has seen the brunt of the disruptions on Saturday, with 822 flight cancellations and 30 delays, according to FlightAware. Southwest Airlines was shown to be the second most impacted airline with 571 cancellations and 33 delays, followed by Delta Airlines with 165 cancellations and 33 delays. United Airlines is the least impacted of the four, but still has 150 cancellations and 45 delays.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday reported airport closures across the country, including Harry Reid International Airport, John Wayne Airport and San Diego International Airport. Meanwhile, weather and air traffic professionals are hard at work monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of air travelers across the country.

In a video released by the agency on social media, Air Traffic Watch Officer Joshua Jennings explained the efforts taken to ensure safety, including snow removal and the de-icing of aircraft. Additionally, the FAA is urging Americans to check its website for updates on airport information.

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This weekend's historic winter storm spans over 2,300 miles with weather alerts as far west as New Mexico sweeping across the country to Maine. More than 190 million Americans are under some type of winter weather alert, breaking the record for the most number of U.S. counties simultaneously under a Winter Storm Warning, FOX Weather reported.

On Friday, the National Weather Service (NSW) urged Americans in the storm's path to take it seriously, advising that individuals should "avoid travel if at all possible."

President Donald Trump shared the NWS message on Truth Social and said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was ready to respond.

"I have been briefed on the record cold wave and historic winter storm that will be hitting much of the United States this weekend. The Trump Administration is coordinating with state and local officials. FEMA is fully prepared to respond," Trump wrote, adding, "Stay safe and stay warm!"

A new bill proposed by Democrats in the Virginia state legislature is raising concerns regarding the removal of minimum prison sentences for various violent felony crimes. 

Within days of Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger being sworn in, members of her party introduced a flurry of amendments looking to end mandatory minimum sentences for various crimes within the state. 

According to Jason Miyares, the former Republican attorney general, House Bill 863 includes proposals to effectively eliminate minimum sentencing for manslaughter, rape, possession and distribution of child pornography, assaulting a law enforcement officer and other repeat violent felonies. 

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Additionally, Democrats are also looking to remove the mandatory five-day minimum sentence for certain first-time DUI offenders.

"HB 863 is a common-sense proposal that eliminates the requirement for one-size-fits-all minimum sentences for certain crimes," Delegate Rae Cousins, who sponsored the bill, said, according to ABC 7. 

"This change would give the experienced judges in our communities more discretion to make decisions based on the unique facts of each case. As the General Assembly session continues, I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation and promote fairer outcomes in our justice system."

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However, law enforcement experts are pushing back against the bill while expressing concerns about how the possibility of more lenient sentencing could impact victims of violent crimes.

"From a law enforcement standpoint, I think police generally want offenders to be held accountable, and frustration among law enforcement officers grows when individuals are released quickly and subsequently re-offend – and even more so if it involved a violent felony," law enforcement expert Josh Ederheimer told Fox News Digital. I think that also tracks the thinking of many members of the public.  I think there is more tolerance for flexibility for minor offenses. 

Ederheimer, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia's Center for Public Safety and Justice and a retired law enforcement officer, went on to explain that police typically understand unique circumstances that can point to a defendant receiving a lesser sentence, but frustration still exists surrounding more serious crimes.

"For violent felonies, however, the biggest practical concern is that the defendant will re-offend, and that the public is not alerted or aware that the defendant has returned to the community. It’s an accountability concern that falls on the shoulders of judges and prosecutors."

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The proposed bill would allow courts to hand down sentences based on the individual facts of each case, rather than statutory mandates implemented by the state’s government. However, it does not impact maximum penalties in such cases. 

Ederheimer further explained that the bill could have a negative impact on victims and their families regarding accountability for violent offenders. 

"I think that the police and public alike have expectations that convicted criminals will be held accountable, and that full sentences should be served," Ederheimer said. "Mandatory minimums assure victims – and the community – that a convicted person will serve their sentence."  

"It is the circumstance when convicted felons are released early that victims may feel a sense of betrayal or that justice was not served. That’s the dilemma."

The bill is set to be reviewed by the House and Senate Justice Committees, where it will likely be amended.

However, Ederheimer added that mandatory minimum sentences may not actually encourage violent offenders not to commit crimes, further adding to the complex balance of maintaining justice and community safety. 

"From a law enforcement perspective, I don’t think mandatory minimums serve as a deterrent," Ederheimer told Fox News Digital. "I think that largely defendants are not focused on repercussions at the time of their offense."