A major winter weather system has brought holiday travel to a standstill across the U.S. Northeast and Great Lakes. As of Sunday, December 28, 2025, the region is grappling with the aftermath of Winter Storm Devin, which has triggered widespread flight grounding and emergency declarations.
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The surge in holiday travelers combined with severe icing led to a chaotic weekend at major aviation hubs.
- Total Impacts: Over 1,500 cancellations and 9,000+ delays recorded since Friday.
- Primary Hubs Affected: The “Big Three” New York area airports—JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark—remained the epicenter of the gridlock.
- Carrier Specifics: JetBlue faced the steepest challenges with over 350 cancellations, while regional carriers like Republic Airways saw significant disruptions to feeder routes.
2. Regional Conditions & Accumulations
The storm broke several “snow droughts” but created hazardous conditions for commuters.
- NYC Metro: New York City recorded 4.3 inches of snow, its highest total since 2022.
- Heavy Totals: Parts of Long Island and Central New York reported 6 to 10 inches, while Connecticut and Massachusetts faced dangerous ice accumulation.
- Power Outages: In Michigan, the weight of ice on infrastructure left 30,000 residents without power.
3. Essential Information for Travelers
Airlines have shifted into recovery mode, but delays persist as de-icing operations continue.
- Travel Waivers: Delta, United, and American Airlines are offering no-fee rebooking for those traveling through impacted cities (BOS, JFK, LGA, EWR, PHL).
- Current Status: Even with clear skies, ground delays at JFK and Newark are still averaging roughly two hours.
Note to Travelers: If your flight was canceled, you are legally entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment if you choose not to be rebooked, regardless of the airline’s “waiver” policy.
