Widespread flight delays following Thanksgiving could continue into the start of the week as winter weather affects travel across the U.S. On Sunday, there were 11,273 delayed flights and 831 cancellations within, into, or out of the country, according to flight-tracking data. The disruptions follow a month-long government shutdown that had already caused major travel chaos.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warned that a winter storm approaching the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Monday evening could bring snow and ice, creating hazardous conditions, particularly in interior areas of the regions. Chicago O’Hare International Airport, preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving travel week ever, reported “severe winter weather” on Saturday, with 529 departure delays and 533 arrival delays. The airport noted that the storm would continue impacting flights throughout the day. Local NWS forecasts had predicted accumulating snow and widespread travel disruptions across the Chicago area.