A winter storm sweeping much of the United States has prompted major disruptions to air travel, with more than 9,000 flights canceled over the weekend and thousands more delayed, according to airline data and flight‑tracking services.
More than 3,250 flights were canceled on Saturday, and more than 5,900 were canceled on Sunday, according to FlightAware.
Why It Matters
Thousands more flights have been delayed as winter storm Fern brought heavy snow, ice, freezing rain, and strong winds across large portions of the country, prompting travel warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS), from the Southern Plains through the Northeast.
What To Know
Cancellations have mounted over several days as the storm expanded, affecting major airline hubs including Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago, and airports in the New York metropolitan area. Airlines reduced schedules in anticipation of deteriorating conditions, while airport operations were slowed by de-icing requirements, runway conditions, and crew availability.
Forecasters said hazardous weather was expected to persist in parts of the central and eastern U.S., with impacts extending into the weekend.
Major U.S. airlines said weather conditions drove the cancellations and delays. Delta Air Lines said it canceled additional flights in Atlanta and along the East Coast and expanded travel waivers to allow customers to rebook without change fees.
American Airlines said it removed hundreds of flights from its schedule and offered flexible rebooking options to affected travelers.
Southwest Airlines said customers could rebook or travel on standby within an extended window, while United Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit also issued travel waivers covering broad areas of their networks.
The storm moved overnight across the Plains and has expanded east of the Mississippi River, bringing snow from northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas into Kentucky and Tennessee, with up to six inches reported in parts of central Kansas and about four inches in the Little Rock, Arkansas, area.
South of the snow band, freezing rain has developed across northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas, including Shreveport, where an ice storm warning is in effect, while North Texas, including the Dallas–Fort Worth area, is seeing a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain with road conditions expected to deteriorate rapidly.
On the storm’s warmer edge, thunderstorms producing heavy rain are affecting the Houston area, where colder air is forecast to arrive later tonight and change precipitation to a wintry mix.
What People Are Saying
Delta Airlines said: “Customers have options if their flight is significantly delayed or canceled. Delta automatically rebooks customers to the next best itinerary, and customers can make further changes via the Delta app and Delta.com.”
Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in a post on X: “We are making preparations for the potentially historic winter storm that could impact 240+ million people across 40+ states.”
NWS Weather Prediction Center wrote on X: “Heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain has already overspread much of the south-central U.S. and will continue to expand eastward through Sunday. Be sure to follow advice from local officials and stay safe.”
What Happens Next
Airlines and transportation officials urged passengers to monitor flight status closely, confirm travel plans before heading to the airport, and take advantage of waiver options where available.
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