A powerful March storm sweeping across the United States has caused widespread travel disruption, with more than 3,400 flights cancelled and over 5,400 delayed by early Monday afternoon, according to data from FlightAware and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The severe weather system — bringing blizzards to the Midwest and dangerous storms along the East Coast — forced the FAA to impose ground stops and delay programmes at several major airports. These included Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, while departures to George Bush Intercontinental Airport faced average delays of nearly 150 minutes due to strong winds.
Major hubs experiencing the highest number of cancellations included Chicago O’Hare International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Charlotte Douglas. Additional disruptions were reported at Orlando International Airport and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson hub, highlighting the storm’s nationwide impact.
Airlines were also heavily affected. American Airlines cancelled more than 500 flights, while Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines each cancelled over 400 services.
The disruptions come during the busy spring break travel period, leaving many passengers scrambling to rebook flights. The FAA also warned that additional delays could affect major airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport, as the storm intensifies.
Weather conditions have been severe across several regions. The Green Bay area recorded 14.8 inches of snow in a single day, the heaviest snowfall there in 137 years, while parts of Michigan saw totals of up to 26 inches.
According to FOX Weather, more than 6,500 flights nationwide could be cancelled through Tuesday as the sprawling storm continues to move across the country.