A “catastrophic” winter storm that is set to slam at least 40 states from Arizona to Maine was already causing a travel nightmare across the US.
At least 1,111 flights on Friday were cancelled, according to the flight tracker FlightAware — as more than 250 million Americans in the storm’s path braced for heavy snow and brutal cold.
The outlook for the rest of the weekend was worse — about 6,900 more flights for Saturday and Sunday were already scrapped.
Nearly 1,300 flights have been canceled across the country through Saturday as a sprawling winter storm that is set to blast more than 40 states from Arizona to Maine makes its way across the US. REUTERS
The potentially historic storm was expected to hit the majority of air travel hubs over the weekend — including Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York— before tapering off Monday afternoon, forecasters said.
American Airlines said 16% of its Saturday flight schedule had been canceled, while Delta Air Lines scrapped flights in five states — Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee — as the storm swirled east.
The storm is expected to impact the vast majority of air travel hubs all told, including Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York, according to reports. FOX Weather
Meanwhile, most major airlines issued travel waivers for flights this weekend across most of the Midwest and Eastern regions.
Delta said it canceled flights for the safety of its customers and was “adjusting staffing levels to ensure that teams are in place,” according to a press release.
Other airlines, including American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, and Spirit, have issued travel waivers for dozens of airports across the country starting Friday.
Most major airlines issued travel waivers for flights this weekend across the majority of the eastern two-thirds of the country. MICHEL VAN BERGEN/EPA/Shutterstock
Experts advised people flying through hard-hit areas this weekend to plan ahead to avoid a potential travel nightmare.
“Proactively changing flights before cancellations hit is going to save you frustration,” national travel expert Dayvee Sutton told FOX Weather Thursday.
The storm is forecast to slam central Texas Friday afternoon, unleashing freezing rain, ice and frigid temperatures in the normally temperate state, according to Weather Channel meteorologists.
The heaviest snow across the Southern Plains is expected between Interstates 70 and 40, while icing is the primary concern across Interstates 40, 20, and even parts of Interstate 10 in the Southeast. FOX Weather
Much of the south, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, will then be pummeled by snow and sleet as the storm moves east Saturday.
“As we head into Saturday morning, this is when things really start to explode,” a Weather Channel forecaster said. “This is an all day Saturday onslaught.”
An ice storm is the main threat in more than 15 Southern states — from New Mexico to the Carolinas — which face dangerous power outages, forecasters said.
The ice forecast for the East coast of the US. FOX Weather
States in the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys are forecast to see heavy snow, while the mid-Atlantic and Northeast parts of the Interstate 95 corridor are preparing for what could be their biggest snowstorm in years.
The heaviest snow across the Southern Plains is expected between Interstates 70 and 40, while icing is the primary concern across Interstates 40, 20, and even parts of Interstate 10 in the Southeast.
Similar conditions are expected across the major north-south arteries in these regions, including Interstates 35, 81, 75, and 65.
A winter storm hits Ottawa County, Michigan, on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. AP
Periods of nearly impossible driving conditions are expected through the weekend.
Crews in Dallas have also started to prepare, salting roads ahead of freezing rain and snow expected by Friday afternoon, as emergency response resources were deployed across the entire state.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation said crews are preparing roads for winter weather in New Orleans.
A customer shops for groceries ahead of the winter storm on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 in Nashville. AP
North Carolina and South Carolina declared states of emergency as officials warned residents to prepare now and stay home this weekend.
Heavy snow is also expected across the I-81, I-80, and I-95 corridors in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with the storm forecast to arrive Saturday night.
New York City’s Department of Emergency Management encouraged people to begin storm preparations on Thursday and Friday.
Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from New Mexico through the South to the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic coasts could see ice accretion capable of causing numerous power outages. FOX Weather
The New York City tri-state area could see over a foot of snow for the first time since 2021, when over 17 inches was recorded.
Popular commuter rail systems, including New Jersey Transit, the Metro-North Railroad, and the Long Island Rail Road in the Northeast, said Friday they would share live updates on train departures and any delays.
Empty shelves are seen at a Walmart on Jan. 22, 2026 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Getty Images
Meanwhile, Amtrak is also announcing service changes across the country.
“We are closely monitoring the path of the next winter storm,” a statement from Amtrak Northeast reads. “Depending on the path of the storm, service adjustments may be necessary.”