WASHINGTON (CBSDC) - Countless passengers were either stranded overnight or left scrambling to make new holiday travel plans at BWI after most airlines servicing the airport decided to cancel their flights due to the heavy fog Monday evening.

Many of those passengers – accustomed to flight cancellations because of severe weather such as snow or lightning – were shocked to hear their flights were cancelled because of fog.

But one passenger – Shirley Fisher of Columbia – says she should have known better when she couldn’t see the exit sign on the drive to the airport.

Passengers wait at check-in lines to go nowhere at BWI Airport. (Credit: George Mesthos/All-News 99.1 WNEW)

She says she and her husband won’t be making their friends’ Christmas party – they’ve decided to accept that loss and stay in a hotel Monday evening.

Another passenger – Julie Gantz, a Georgetown student waiting to get home for the holidays – says she didn’t learn her flight was cancelled until it was too late.

“I was in line to rebook my flight,” Gantz said.

Meteorologist Carl Eriksen says the cancellations probably won’t cease until Tuesday morning when the fog finally lifts, and that could be at late as 10 a.m.

When Gantz heard that, she said she made new plans to hitch a ride with a friend to Philadelphia, and then catch a flight home to San Diego from there.

Caleb Gilmer was in town visiting friends from his alma mater – University of Maryland, Baltimore County – and says he’s remained in contact with his employers, because he’s worried he won’t make it back to Orland in time for his shift Tuesday evening.

“They told me to try to stand by for the earliest flight and just wait until then,” said Gilmer.

Passengers to try find comfort in BWI after learning they’ll be stranded overnight due to heavy fog. (Credit: George Mesthos/All-News 99.1 WNEW)