A significant winter weather event has struck the United States, leading to an extensive cancellation of flights and widespread disruption for travelers. Over 9,500 flights have been called off, affecting numerous cities and airports nationwide as airlines adjust operations in response to the severe storm conditions.
Flight tracking data reveals that a variety of airlines have proactively canceled flights in anticipation of the storm's impact. Among them, American Airlines Group Inc. has recorded the highest volume with 1,399 cancellations, closely followed by Delta Air Lines, which has reported 1,211 canceled flights. Other carriers such as JetBlue Airways Corp. and United Airlines have also enacted comprehensive cancellations, collectively exceeding 9,400 flights for Sunday alone.
The storm has not only disrupted air travel but also led to significant power outages, with more than 160,000 customers across the southern states, including parts of Texas and Louisiana, experiencing electricity loss. The weather system is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, particularly impacting the eastern two-thirds of the country as it progresses from Sunday into the coming week.
Given the storm's severity, President Donald Trump issued federal emergency disaster declarations for several states, including South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. In a message disseminated via Truth Social, he urged residents to stay safe and maintain warmth as emergency measures take effect. Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security indicated that 17 states, plus the District of Columbia, have declared weather emergencies due to the rapidly changing and hazardous conditions.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, noted that utility crews are actively engaged in efforts to restore power to the multitude of customers affected across the southern regions. The U.S. Department of Energy has also intervened by issuing an emergency order for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to deploy backup resources aimed at preventing widespread blackouts.
This latest storm arrives shortly after Winter Storm Devin, which similarly caused major disruptions to air travel during the 2025 holiday season, highlighting the vulnerabilities of airline operations during peak travel periods amid severe weather events. The timing and scale of these cancellations during critical travel windows pose substantial challenges for both the traveling public and the airline industry.
In totality, the storm's combination of harsh weather and infrastructural impact underscores the significant strain placed upon transportation and energy systems in the affected regions. Airlines are required to navigate the delicate balance between operational continuity and passenger safety, while utility providers focus on mitigating power outages to minimize hardships for residents and businesses alike.