Winter storm hits Midwest and Great Lakes
A major winter storm brought heavy snow to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes over Thanksgiving weekend, triggering widespread flight cancellations and disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.
Mass Cancellations Begin Saturday
Airlines canceled nearly 2,000 flights on Saturday, with the worst impacts felt at airports in Chicago and Milwaukee.
The storm dropped up to a foot of snow across the region, overwhelming flight schedules during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Hardest-hit airports on Saturday
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) — nearly 50% of flights canceled
- Chicago Midway (MDW) — about 40% canceled
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) — severe operational impacts
FlightAware reported 1,978 cancellations for Saturday alone.
Lingering Disruptions on Sunday
By Sunday, the storm had exited the region, but schedules remained strained.
As of 5:15 p.m. EST:
- 679 flights were canceled
- 8,292 flights were delayed
Many Sunday cancellations were preemptively grounded on Saturday as airlines braced for lingering issues with aircraft and crews.
Conditions Slowly Improve
Airports across the Midwest began stabilizing operations Sunday afternoon.
Examples of improvements
- O’Hare (ORD): Cancellations dropped to about 6% of the day’s schedule
- Eastern Iowa Airport (CID): Only 7 departures canceled (16%), compared to 60% cancellations on Saturday
Despite improvements, more delays and cancellations were expected as airlines repositioned planes and brought crews back into place.
Airports Hit by Saturday’s Winter Weather
Several regional airports experienced substantial disruptions, including:
- St. Louis Lambert International (STL)
- Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA)
- Des Moines International (DSM)
- Green Bay Austin Straubel (GRB)
- Madison Dane County Regional (MSN)
- Traverse City Cherry Capital (TVC)
- Quad Cities International (MLI)
- South Bend International (SBN)
- Fort Wayne International (FWA)
- Peoria International (PIA)
- Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO)
Impact on Post-Thanksgiving Travel
The weekend storm struck during the height of the Thanksgiving return-travel rush, complicating one of the heaviest travel periods of the year.
Tens of thousands of passengers faced delays, cancellations, missed connections, and last-minute rebooking challenges.
Airlines Issue Weather Waivers
Most major airlines rolled out flexible travel waivers for customers scheduled to pass through affected regions.
These waivers allow passengers to rebook without fees, depending on the airline and itinerary.
Travelers with flights on Sunday or Monday were advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Road Travel Concerns
Although air travel conditions improved, road travel remained difficult across parts of:
- Pennsylvania
- Upstate New York
Snow, icy roads, and lingering wind created hazardous driving conditions in the Northeast.
More Updates Coming
Additional updates are expected as airlines work to restore normal operations and get travelers home safely following the holiday weekend.
