Winter Storm Cancels Thousands of U.S. Flights, Knocks Out Power
Winter Storm Cancels Thousands of U.S. Flights, Knocks Out Power
A sweeping winter storm blankets the country, canceling thousands of flights and leaving hundreds of thousands without power as travel hubs brace for ongoing disruption.
A sweeping winter storm stretched across the United States this weekend, turning travel into chaos at many airports and forcing power utilities to activate emergency plans. On Sunday, nearly 9,000 departures were canceled, the highest tally since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving travelers stranded and crews scrambling to rebook.
Power grids bore the brunt of the blast, with more than 600,000 customers losing electricity as ice-laced conditions knocked out lines and sparked outages from the Midwest to the East Coast. Utilities said crews were mobilized and prepared for days of cold weather as restoration efforts rolled into night hours in many communities.
Airports and airlines faced a brutal test, with major hubs in Dallas, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York reporting widespread disruptions. Customers were urged to monitor status boards and airline apps, while many flights were canceled or left in limbo as crews worked to clear backlog and rebook travelers with refunds and waivers.
Beyond the airports, the storm disrupted schools, traffic, and emergency services, and forecasters warned that more snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures could persist through the week. For millions, the weather is a reminder of how quickly a routine trip can become an overnight ordeal, but rescue and recovery efforts in cities across the country continue as the system slowly clears.
As the nation braces for continuing cold, travelers are advised to prepare for further changes, pack essentials, and check on neighbors who may be affected by outages.
