Millions of travellers across the United States are bracing for widespread disruption as a major winter storm threatens to blanket large parts of the country with snow, sleet, and ice. With airlines already cancelling flights and rail services scaling back operations, the storm is expected to upend travel plans from Texas to the Northeast just as the weekend begins.
Forecasters warn that the system could impact more than half of the U.S. population, raising concerns about dangerous road conditions, airport delays, and service suspensions across multiple modes of transport.
According to forecasters, the storm system is expected to stretch across a vast portion of the eastern half of the country, bringing a mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. States from Texas through the Midwest and into the Northeast could see hazardous travel conditions as the storm intensifies over the weekend.
Flight cancellations are already underway
Air travel is already feeling the impact. More than 4,000 flights across the United States have been cancelled from Saturday through Sunday, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. As of Friday afternoon, the majority of cancellations were tied to flights arriving at or departing from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the country.
Further cancellations and delays are expected as the storm moves east.
Several major airlines are allowing passengers to change their travel plans without incurring additional fees due to the storm. United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Alaska Airlines have issued flexible travel policies for passengers flying through cities including Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, New York, and Washington.
Travellers are advised to check their airline’s website directly for specific rebooking deadlines and eligible travel dates.
How travellers can track delays and cancellations
Passengers are encouraged to monitor their flights using their airline’s official app, where updates often appear first. On the day of travel, FlightAware’s website or mobile app can also provide a broader picture of delays and cancellations at major airports nationwide.
Under US rules, if a flight is canceled, significantly delayed, or changed, airlines are required to rebook passengers when possible. Travelers who choose not to fly are entitled to an automatic refund to their original form of payment within 20 days.
However, airlines are not obligated to cover hotel stays or meal expenses when disruptions are caused by weather, which is considered outside their control. In such cases, travel insurance or credit card coverage may help offset unexpected costs.
Amtrak cancellations and train travel impacts
Rail travel is also being affected. Amtrak has fully or partially canceled more than 75 trains across the East Coast, Midwest, and South between Friday and Sunday in anticipation of the storm.
Affected routes include:
the Empire Builder, running between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest
the Heartland Flyer, connecting Oklahoma City and Fort Worth
the Cardinal, linking New York and Chicago via Cincinnati
the Acela, operating between Boston and Washington
Amtrak said passengers on affected services are being offered refunds and rebooking without additional fees. The railroad noted that cancellations could increase depending on how the storm develops.
Passengers are advised to check Amtrak’s website or app, sign up for delay alerts, or contact the reservation center at 1-800-USA-RAIL for assistance.
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