Storm Fern Sweeps Half the Nation with Snow and Ice The National Weather Service warned that a powerful winter system moved from the southern Rockies to New England, delivering 1‑2 feet of snow, sleet and freezing rain that threatened roughly 180 million people [1][2]. The storm’s ice band stretched from east Texas to North Carolina, prompting emergency declarations in ten states and leaving nearly one million customers without power [2]. Temperatures plunged as Arctic air surged, and forecasters noted a risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes along the Gulf Coast after the cold front passed [2].

Record Flight Cancellations Top Pandemic Levels on Sunday Flight‑tracking data showed 10,694 to 10,800 flights canceled on Sunday, the highest daily total since the COVID‑19 pandemic began and second only to the March 30 2020 record of 12,143 cancellations [3][4][1]. Cirium confirmed the figure eclipses all other weather‑related disruptions since 2020, while FlightAware logged roughly 13,000 cancellations across Saturday and Sunday combined [5][6]. Earlier Friday activity already produced more than 19,000 delays and over 1,000 cancellations, indicating the storm’s impact began before the weekend peak [8][9].

Major Hubs and Carriers Experience Near‑Total Shutdowns New York’s LaGuardia halted 91 % of its flights (433), Philadelphia canceled 94 % (324), and JFK scrubbed about 75 % (436); Reagan National canceled every departure, roughly 420 flights [1][3][4]. Dallas‑Fort Worth also suffered, with over 700 departures and a similar number of arrivals canceled on Saturday, making it the busiest cancellation point nationwide [5][8][9]. Airlines each lost hundreds of flights: American over 1,400 (46 % of its schedule), Delta and Southwest more than 1,300, United around 900, and JetBlue about 570, representing roughly 71 % of its planned departures [1][3][4].

Airlines Offer Refunds, Waivers Amid Federal Consumer Protections American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United announced fee‑free rebooking and full refunds for all canceled itineraries, invoking DOT rules that require refunds even for non‑refundable tickets [2][5][6][7][8][9]. Refund processing timelines differ by payment method—seven business days for credit cards and up to 20 days for cash or checks [7]. While carriers are not obligated to provide meals or hotel accommodations for weather‑related cancellations, many offered voluntary assistance, and passengers may file complaints with the DOT if refunds are delayed [5][6][8][9].