Disruptions to air transport in the United States and Canada are reaching levels unseen since the 2020 Covid pandemic, with over 11,000 flights cancelled in the US on Sunday alone.
Winter Storm Fern, which developed from a weather system off the coast of California on 22 January, has brought heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The resulting ice accumulation, coupled with dangerously low temperatures, has had a dramatic impact on aviation.
Overall cancellations are likely to grow into the early week as the storm is forecast to impact a corridor 3,200 kilometres wide. This covers 34 states, stretching from the southern Rockies through the Midwest and into the Northeast and New England, affecting areas unaccustomed to such severe winter conditions.
The extreme weather has prompted governors to declare states of emergency in over 20 states, affecting over 230 million people. These declarations allow authorities to activate emergency response mechanisms and mobilise additional resources. National Guard units have been deployed in several states to assist with critical operations such as clearing roads, transporting patients, and providing logistical support.
Winter Storm Fern: It’s EXTREME!“Ice storm apocalypse in Oxford, Mississippi. Hours of thunder freezing rain, power flashes lighting up the sky, stranded motorists, trees falling on cars under the weight of over an inch of ice accretion.”
— John Cremeans (@JohnCremeansX) January 25, 2026
Reed Timmer, PhD.
Extreme Meteorologist! pic.twitter.com/yamcffX8Td
Travel chaos
While images of snow-covered New York may have seemed idyllic to some, others have experienced cancelled flights, postponed reunions, and disrupted family gatherings.
On Sunday, the highest number of flight cancellations in six years was reached, and airlines scrambled to adjust their schedules. Some airports had to close completely. Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport was effectively closed all day on Sunday, while Washington Dulles cancelled ‘only’ 87% of its flights.
LaGuardia Airport in New York shut down on Sunday afternoon after cancelling 90% of its flights. It is expected to resume operations early on Monday morning, following extensive snow clearance. Newark and JFK also reported high cancellation rates.
LaGuardia airport reopened late last night, but has cancelations again today. More than 12,585 flights nationwide got cancelled yesterday. pic.twitter.com/VR6JwJlRaO
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) January 26, 2026
There were severe disruptions in Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Philadelphia, with delays and reduced schedules.
Although Boston Logan International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport remained open, they experienced a significant number of cancellations and delays, reaching 66% and 94%, respectively.
Crews are working around the clock to remove snow and ice from the runways and aircraft, a painstaking process that is taking time.
The winter storm at Boston Logan International Airport right now!! ❄️❄️🌨️ pic.twitter.com/XM3IHPTqsw
— Carlos Montes 🇨🇴🇺🇸 (@CarlosJMontesM) January 25, 2026
The weather situation in Canada is equally difficult, though its airports appear better prepared for the extreme conditions. While Canadian hubs experienced significant cancellations and delays, they were on a smaller scale than their American counterparts. According to FlyAware, Toronto Pearson cancelled 56% of its flights and Montreal-Trudeau only 24%.
Despite the rolling delays, all major international gateways in Canada remained operational.
Here's a look at snow clearing operations on the apron at Terminal 1.
— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) January 25, 2026
Our teams use front-end loaders to load large volumes of snow into inground and portable snow melters. This process enables us to keep critical apron surfaces cleared of snow to support airport operations. pic.twitter.com/gTX0WM4aZX
On Sunday, President Trump approved a record 12 federal emergency disaster declarations, enabling states to access critical federal resources to supplement their response efforts. This follows a public statement from US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who urged Americans to avoid non-essential travel while life-threatening conditions persist on roads and at airports.
In total today, airlines have canceled nearly 12,000 flights in the United States and more than two dozen airports are closed entirely.
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 25, 2026
Today’s cancellations:
American 3874
Delta 2367
United 1964
Southwest 1339
JetBlue 592 pic.twitter.com/SFLX2736ls
Monday is not expected to be much better, with 2,400 flights already cancelled as the storm moves east. Experts warn that further cancellations are likely as the week begins.
While travel remains chaotic, airlines are advising passengers to check their flight status frequently as conditions evolve. The good news is that many carriers are offering flexible rebooking policies and waiving change fees to help those who are stranded.
