How a Deadly US Winter Storm Grounded Over 19,000 Flights and Shut Down Major Airports

A powerful and historic winter storm has severely impacted commercial aviation across the United States. The January 2026 North American winter storm brought heavy snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. This weather event caused widespread US winter storm flight cancellations and significant commercial aviation disruption. Over 19,000 flights were grounded or delayed since the storm began on January 22.

Major US Airport Closures and Delays

Air traffic control faced extreme challenges from the storm's reach. The system affected a massive area from Texas to New England. Many major hubs experienced near-total shutdowns over the weekend.

At New York's LaGuardia Airport, 91% of flights were cancelled. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport cancelled all departing flights for Monday. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) alone saw over 1,000 flights cancelled. These major US airport closures created cascading delays nationwide.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs time for recovery. The agency hopes for a return to normal operations by Wednesday. This timeline highlights the severity of the FAA severe weather warnings and operational strain.

Airline Response and Passenger Impact

Facing the US travel chaos, airlines issued numerous airline travel waivers. Carriers like Delta, United, and American Airlines waived change fees for dozens of affected airports. This allowed passengers greater flexibility amid the widespread cancellations.

• Airlines must manage aircraft and crew repositioning after the storm passes.
• Ground operations, including de-icing and runway clearing, were severely hampered.
• The prolonged cold is expected to slow the recovery of flight schedules.

Wider Storm Impact and Cause

The deadly winter storm impact extended far beyond the aviation sector. The storm has been linked to up to 49 fatalities across multiple states. Deaths were reported from Texas to New England due to the extreme cold and hazardous conditions.

Power outages also reached catastrophic levels. Over one million customers lost electricity at the storm's peak. The outages were concentrated in the US South, where ice accumulation downed power lines.

Meteorological Context

This extreme polar vortex weather event resulted from a stretched polar vortex. This phenomenon allowed Arctic air to spill across North America. Forecasters warn that dangerous, frigid air will persist through the week. Wind chills could dip to dangerously low extremes in the Northern Plains. Authorities continue to urge residents to avoid all non-essential travel.

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