ALONE, AND THAT NUMBER IS LIKELY TO GO UP. LET’S GET OVER TO KCRA 3’S CORTEZ. HE’S LIVE AT SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL. CHECK IN ON HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP FOR TRAVELERS IN OUR REGION. DENTON. TRAVELERS FEELING THOSE IMPACTS TONIGHT. CECIL. AS MORE THAN 20 STATES ISSUED AN EMERGENCY DISASTER DECLARATION AS FLIGHTS DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST. ROLLING BAGS, USUALLY A SIGN FOR TAKEOFF AT SMUD. BUT TONIGHT, A SOUND OF WAITING AS A POWERFUL WINTER STORM ENGULFS MUCH OF THE U.S. WE FOUND OUT AS WE WERE RIDING TO THE AIRPORT HERE THAT IT WAS DELAYED. SO YEAH, WE’LL MISS OUR CONNECTING FLIGHT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CHICAGO BY 6:00. NOW I’M LIKE EIGHT HOURS LATER. AIRLINES CANCELING AND DELAYING FLIGHTS AS CONDITIONS WORSEN FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE EAST COAST, LEAVING TRAVELERS RACING TO CHANGE PLANS IN TIME. DID YOU FIND OUT LIKE THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELED? I O AT 4 A.M. I WAS HERE SINCE 4 A.M. WOW. AND YOU CAN’T FIND A TICKET? MORE THAN 12,000 FLIGHTS CANCELED THIS WEEKEND, AS AIRLINES LIKE DELTA AND AMERICAN WARN OF DELAYS OFFERING TO WAIVE FEES TO MAJOR AIRPORTS LIKE O’HARE. I GOT TO FIND SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING IN CHICAGO. I’M JUST TRYING TO GET ANOTHER TICKET, BUT IT’S SO EXPENSIVE. OR. OR THEY DON’T HAVE IT UNTIL MONDAY. MAYBE. SOUTHWEST WARNING TRAVELERS TO EXPECT DELAYS AT MORE THAN 40 AIRPORTS WITH FLIGHTS TO DALLAS FORT WORTH LEADING CANCELLATIONS, WITH MORE THAN 700. MY FLIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO DALLAS FROM DALLAS TO HOBBY, BUT THAT GOT CANCELED. WE’RE LEAVING ON OUR CRUISE SUNDAY, AND I’M SUPPOSED TO GET AND IT’S SHOWING ME I’M GOING TO GET AT 2:00 IN THE CRUISE LEAVES AT LIKE I THINK LIKE AT FOUR, THERE’S LIKE NO WAY I’LL MAKE IT. YOU CAN’T BLAME ANYBODY BECAUSE NO ONE CAN CONTROL MOTHER NATURE. SAC INTERNATIONAL TELLING TRAVELERS TO CHECK IN WITH THE AIRLINES DIRECTLY, AS THEY’LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS THESE FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS ARE EXPECTED
Sacramento travelers caught in nationwide flight disruptions as winter storm hits
More than 12,000 flights were canceled this weekend
Updated: 8:44 PM PST Jan 24, 2026
A powerful winter storm is sweeping across much of the United States, triggering widespread travel disruptions and leaving thousands of passengers stranded as airlines cancel and delay flights from the Midwest to the East Coast.More than 12,000 flights have been canceled nationwide this weekend, according to FlightAware, as heavy snow, ice and dangerous winds move through major travel corridors. The impacts are being felt locally as well, with Sacramento travelers facing delays and missed connections while trying to reach destinations in the Southwest and Northeast.“We found out as we were riding to the airport here that it was delayed,” traveler Mark Williams said. “So yeah, we’ll miss our connecting flight.”Passenger Jamie Lichter described a long and frustrating wait. “I would have been in Chicago by 6. Now I’m like eight hours later,” she said.As conditions worsen, airlines are scrambling to manage operations, and passengers are racing to rebook flights or change plans altogether. Southwest Airlines is warning travelers to expect delays at more than 40 airports nationwide. Flights to and from Texas have been hit especially hard, with Dallas-Fort Worth leading the country in cancellations, topping 700 canceled flights. Although Sacramento International Airport isn’t directly affected by the winter storm, they are urging travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to allow extra time as the storm system continues to impact travel nationwide.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A powerful winter storm is sweeping across much of the United States, triggering widespread travel disruptions and leaving thousands of passengers stranded as airlines cancel and delay flights from the Midwest to the East Coast.
More than 12,000 flights have been canceled nationwide this weekend, according to FlightAware, as heavy snow, ice and dangerous winds move through major travel corridors. The impacts are being felt locally as well, with Sacramento travelers facing delays and missed connections while trying to reach destinations in the Southwest and Northeast.
“We found out as we were riding to the airport here that it was delayed,” traveler Mark Williams said. “So yeah, we’ll miss our connecting flight.”
Passenger Jamie Lichter described a long and frustrating wait. “I would have been in Chicago by 6. Now I’m like eight hours later,” she said.
As conditions worsen, airlines are scrambling to manage operations, and passengers are racing to rebook flights or change plans altogether.
Southwest Airlines is warning travelers to expect delays at more than 40 airports nationwide. Flights to and from Texas have been hit especially hard, with Dallas-Fort Worth leading the country in cancellations, topping 700 canceled flights.
Although Sacramento International Airport isn’t directly affected by the winter storm, they are urging travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to allow extra time as the storm system continues to impact travel nationwide.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel