Winter Storm Grounds Flights Across U.S. Airports Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Introduction
Thousands of U.S. travelers faced significant flight delays and hundreds of cancellations over the busy Thanksgiving weekend, as a powerful winter storm swept across major cities. Airports in Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York City were especially hard hit, with snow and severe weather disrupting travel plans for countless passengers returning home after the holiday.
Key Details
The storm brought up to a foot of snow to parts of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, grounding nearly 2,000 flights on Saturday alone. By Sunday, more than 600 flights remained canceled, with thousands more delayed as airlines scrambled to reposition planes and crews. While conditions improved by late afternoon, lingering disruptions continued to affect schedules and connections.
Impact
Travelers experienced long waits, missed connections, and uncertain arrival times, highlighting the challenges airlines face during extreme weather. Despite the chaos, most airports saw gradual improvement, though some delays persisted into Monday as carriers worked to restore normal operations.
