The powerful winter storm sweeping across the United States has severely disrupted travel throughout Central New York and beyond on Monday (January 26), with Syracuse Hancock International Airport experiencing widespread flight cancellations.
As of Sunday afternoon, nearly all flights in and out of Syracuse were canceled, with just one flight to Tampa, Florida remaining on schedule, according to Syracuse.com. The situation began deteriorating earlier in the weekend, with nearly half of all scheduled flights already canceled by Sunday morning.
The storm’s impact extends far beyond Syracuse, with more than 10,500 flights canceled nationwide on Sunday alone. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported this as the highest cancellation event since the pandemic.
Amtrak has also adjusted its service schedule in response to the severe weather conditions, noting that “service adjustments may be necessary” depending on weather conditions.
Road travel remains hazardous across the region. Onondaga County has issued a travel advisory, and while it doesn’t explicitly restrict movement, officials strongly recommend staying home if possible. Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency and implemented travel restrictions, including a ban on long combination tandem vehicles on the New York Thruway that took effect early Sunday.
Following the snow, frigid temperatures and gusty winds are expected to set in on Monday, creating additional hazards.
Major airlines including Delta, United, American, Southwest, and JetBlue have issued travel waivers for dozens of airports across the country. Travel expert Dayvee Sutton advised travelers that “proactively changing flights before cancellations hit is going to save you frustration.”
The storm’s effects are expected to linger, as temperatures in Central New York are forecast to remain below 20 degrees for the rest of January.
Travelers are strongly advised to check flight status before heading to the airport and to monitor road conditions if travel is absolutely necessary.