A powerful winter storm sweeping across the southeastern United States has caused massive travel disruptions, forcing the cancellation of more than 15,000 flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded. As of Monday morning (1000GMT), flight tracking data showed over 6,000 additional flights delayed across the country.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas saw the highest number of cancellations since Sunday, with 828 flights scrapped. Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina followed with 751 cancellations, while New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) reported 728, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey 682, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia 680.
Major airlines were significantly affected. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines accounted for more than 4,000 combined flight cancellations, while Southwest Airlines and United Airlines reported around 3,000 cancellations.
The storm system, which has been spreading sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow from the southern states to New England, is expected to continue causing hazardous conditions throughout Monday. The National Weather Service warned that extended periods of very low temperatures could lead to “dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts.”
Power outages have compounded the crisis, with more than 820,000 customers reported without electricity nationwide, according to poweroutage.us.
In response, President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states, enabling federal assistance and the pre-positioning of emergency supplies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized the collaborative nature of the response.
“The Trump administration has worked around the clock with state and local governments ahead of this winter storm. Response to this storm has been locally executed, state led, and federally supported,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said via social media platform X on Sunday.
Authorities are urging residents to limit travel where possible and stay updated on local advisories as crews work to clear roads and restore power. With forecasts predicting continued freezing temperatures and icy conditions, officials warned that the storm’s effects could linger into the week, affecting both travel and daily life across much of the East Coast and the South.
