Severe winter weather bearing down on the Upper Midwest has thrown air travel into disarray at some of the United States’ busiest hubs, with Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport reporting hundreds of delays and cancellations as snow, strong winds and icy conditions complicate operations.

As airlines struggle to keep schedules intact during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, passengers are glued to flight apps and airport departure boards, trying to stay one step ahead of fast-changing conditions.

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Storm System Slams Key Midwest Hubs

The latest winter storm barreling across the Midwest has arrived at a critical moment for U.S. aviation, coinciding with high post-holiday passenger volumes and putting outsized pressure on infrastructure at major hubs.

Meteorologists say the system brought a combination of heavy snow, gusty winds and falling temperatures to Minnesota and northern Illinois, creating textbook conditions for air travel disruption.

At Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, several inches of snow on Sunday and overnight into Monday reduced visibility, slowed ground handling and forced deicing operations to run nearly nonstop.

In Chicago, O’Hare International Airport has been grappling not just with snow, but with persistent winds that have complicated runway use and slowed the arrival and departure flow rates that air traffic controllers can safely manage.

Forecasts for the Chicago area on December 29 called for sustained winds above 20 miles per hour and gusts topping 40 miles per hour, along with intermittent snow showers and blowing snow. That has meant pilots must contend with crosswinds, while ramp crews work in difficult, wind-chilled conditions, further stretching the time required to turn aircraft between flights.

The cascading effect from these two hub airports is being felt nationwide. Because airlines route huge volumes of connecting passengers through Minneapolis–Saint Paul and O’Hare, disruptions in the Upper Midwest are quickly rippling through to smaller and medium-size airports across the country, leaving travelers as far away as the Southeast and West Coast facing knock-on delays.

Flight tracking data through Monday afternoon showed thousands of U.S. flights delayed and hundreds outright canceled, with Chicago and Minneapolis consistently ranking among the most affected locations.

Snow Totals, Blowing Winds and Icy Surfaces

The storm’s immediate impacts were visible on the ground across Minnesota and the Chicago metro area, where snow totals and wind speeds combined to create near-blizzard conditions at times. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport area recorded close to six inches of snow during the core of the event, according to preliminary National Weather Service readings, with higher totals in some Twin Cities suburbs. That accumulation, arriving in a relatively short period, turned runways and taxiways white and forced plow crews into continuous operation to keep surfaces open.

In Chicago, earlier heavy snowfalls and lake-enhanced bands have been followed by a regime of intense winds and sharply colder air. Temperatures around O’Hare dropped into the low 20s Fahrenheit on Monday, while gusts near 45 miles per hour kept blowing powder across pavement and limited visibility. Even modest new snowfall amounts under these conditions can have an outsized operational effect because they repeatedly undo the work of plows and sweepers, while the combination of moisture and cold promotes patchy ice formation on aprons and taxi lanes.

Airport operations teams in both cities have leaned on extensive winter-weather playbooks that include runway rotation, prioritized clearing of primary taxiways, and coordinated deicing queues to keep as much of the flight schedule intact as possible. Yet even well-prepared hubs face hard limits when snow is accompanied by strong winds and rapidly changing conditions. Crews must pause for safety when wind gusts cross certain thresholds, and ice mitigation requires careful timing to ensure that deicing fluids remain effective from gate pushback to takeoff.

Delays, Cancellations and Ground Stops

Through Monday, flight disruption numbers underscored the storm’s severity. Nationwide, several thousand flights were reported delayed, with more than 700 cancellations within, into or out of the United States by early afternoon. A significant share of those interruptions was concentrated at major Midwest hubs, especially Chicago O’Hare and Minneapolis–Saint Paul, which toggled between heavy delay programs and periods of reduced arrivals as visibility and wind conditions fluctuated.

At O’Hare, average departure delays stretched well beyond 45 minutes during peak periods, according to aviation tracking services, with some banks of flights pushed back by an hour or more. At times over the weekend and into Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration implemented arrival and departure management programs that effectively throttled the rate of flights allowed into the Chicago terminal area. That ensured safety in crowded skies but translated into rolling delays and, in some cases, required ground holds for aircraft waiting to depart from other cities.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul experienced a similar pattern, with flights queued for deicing during the snow’s heaviest phases and airlines preemptively trimming schedules to reduce congestion. Travelers reported aircraft sitting at gates or on taxiways awaiting deicing clearance, as ground crews worked down long lists of departures. For passengers already in the air, arriving flights sometimes circled in holding patterns or diverted to alternate airports when crosswinds or runway conditions temporarily exceeded operating limits.

Travelers Struggle With Uncertainty and Changing Plans

For passengers, the most frustrating aspect of the storm has been the constant uncertainty. With conditions changing hourly, particularly in the early morning and evening windows when temperatures and visibility are most volatile, flight statuses have been anything but static. Many travelers have watched their departure times shift repeatedly as airlines juggle crews, aircraft positions and air traffic control restrictions.

At both O’Hare and Minneapolis–Saint Paul, concourses filled with holiday travelers lining up at customer service desks or huddled around power outlets to keep phones and laptops charged. Families returning from holiday gatherings, international visitors transiting through U.S. gateways, and business travelers trying to get a jump-start on the New Year’s workweek all found themselves refreshing airline apps and notification messages, sometimes seeing a flight move from “on time” to “delayed” to “canceled” within the space of a few hours.

Some airlines issued weather waivers that allowed customers to rebook without change fees, provided they stayed within certain fare and travel date windows. That gave proactive passengers an opportunity to shift to earlier or later flights, or reroute through less affected hubs where seats were available. Others opted to abandon their air plans entirely, renting cars for overnight drives or pushing trips into later in the week. For those already stuck in connecting airports, however, options were often limited once the storm’s full impact became clear.

How Airlines and Airports Are Managing the Disruptions

Airlines serving the Midwest have responded with a mix of schedule reductions, flexible booking policies and heightened operational coordination. Carriers trimmed Friday and weekend schedules in anticipation of the storm and continued to cancel select flights on Monday rather than risk cascading delays across their networks. This strategy, while difficult for affected travelers in the moment, is designed to allow a faster return to normal operations once the worst weather has passed.

On the ground, airport authorities in Minneapolis and Chicago have coordinated closely with federal agencies and airline partners. Snow teams at both airports field fleets of plows, brooms and deicers to keep primary runways and taxiways operational. In Minneapolis, where winter weather is a seasonal constant, the airport’s well-practiced response includes precision sequencing of runway clearing and robust deicing infrastructure. Chicago’s hub, one of the busiest in the world, balances winter operations with intense air traffic demand, dynamically shifting runway use as winds and visibility evolve.

Inside the terminals, customer service and concessions staff have also been pressed into a form of triage, with longer lines at information counters and heavy demand at food outlets as passengers spend extra hours in the concourse. Airlines have in some cases distributed snacks or meal vouchers when delays stretch well past scheduled departure times, though policies vary and are more limited when weather is the root cause. Hotel inventory around the airports has tightened as stranded travelers scramble for last-minute rooms.

Safety, Regulations and Passenger Rights in Severe Weather

Behind every delay and cancellation decision lies a web of safety rules designed to protect passengers and crews when winter conditions deteriorate. Minimum visibility thresholds, maximum crosswind limits for specific aircraft types, and runway friction measurements all feed into go or no-go decisions for arrivals and departures. Ice accumulation on wings and control surfaces is a particular concern, which is why aircraft must undergo deicing whenever snow or freezing precipitation threatens to build up before takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration, working with airport operators and airlines, sets traffic management programs that balance safety and capacity. During storms like this one, that can mean miles-in-trail restrictions on arriving aircraft, revised approach procedures, or ground stops that temporarily halt departures to overloaded hubs. These systemic measures can quickly turn a local snow event into a nationwide schedule crunch, as flights stack up waiting for space in the system.

Passenger rights during weather disruptions can be confusing. U.S. rules generally do not require airlines to provide compensation or hotel accommodations when delays and cancellations are caused by weather events outside the carrier’s control. However, many airlines offer travel waivers that allow changes without penalties, and some will provide limited assistance such as meal vouchers in prolonged disruptions. Travel insurance, where purchased, may help cover additional costs like hotels and rebooked flights, but policies vary on what is considered a covered event.

What Travelers Can Do If Their Flight Is Affected

With winter conditions likely to remain a factor for several days, travel experts recommend that passengers take proactive steps if their itineraries involve Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Chicago O’Hare, or other Midwest and Great Lakes airports in the storm’s path. Checking flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport is essential, as is enrolling in text or app notifications that can alert travelers to changes in near real time. Airport and third-party travel apps can provide a broader picture of system-wide delays and hotspots.

When a delay or cancellation hits, speed often matters. Rebooking options tend to disappear quickly once a major disruption unfolds, so contacting the airline through multiple channels can help. In addition to airport agents, airline call centers and app-based rebooking tools may offer alternative routings or dates. Some travelers have found success using social media channels or dedicated messaging apps where airlines staff customer-service teams capable of adjusting reservations.

For those still in the planning stages, flexibility remains the best insurance against winter chaos. Building backups into itineraries, such as avoiding very tight connections at weather-prone hubs, booking earlier flights in the day when possible, and considering non-stop routes to bypass connecting airports, can all reduce risk. Packing essential medications, a change of clothes and basic toiletries in carry-on luggage is another widely recommended strategy, particularly during seasons when storms like the current system are common.

FAQ

Q1. Why are Minneapolis–Saint Paul and Chicago O’Hare seeing so many delays right now?
The storm system affecting the Upper Midwest brought a mix of snow, strong winds and cold temperatures that reduce runway capacity, slow deicing and force air traffic controllers to limit the number of flights moving in and out of these hubs.

Q2. How many flights have been delayed or canceled nationwide?
By Monday afternoon on December 29, flight tracking data showed several thousand U.S. flights delayed and hundreds canceled, with a significant share of those disruptions concentrated at major Midwest hubs including Minneapolis–Saint Paul and Chicago O’Hare.

Q3. How long will the severe winter weather continue to affect air travel?
Forecasts indicate that snow showers and gusty winds will continue to affect parts of Minnesota and the Chicago area through late Monday and into Tuesday, with lingering delays possible even after conditions improve as airlines work through backlogs.

Q4. Should I go to the airport if my flight status still shows “on time”?
Travelers should check for updates repeatedly before heading to the airport and again en route, but if a flight is confirmed as on time and no cancellation notice has been issued, airline and airport officials generally advise proceeding while allowing extra time for winter road conditions.

Q5. What are my rights if my flight is canceled due to bad weather?
In the United States, airlines are not typically required to provide compensation or hotel rooms for weather-related cancellations, but most will help rebook you on the next available flight and may waive change fees under a published weather waiver.

Q6. Is it safer to rebook through another hub outside the Midwest?
Routing through hubs that are not in the direct path of the storm can reduce the risk of additional delays, but availability may be limited; travelers should compare options offered by their airline and consider later travel dates if same-day alternatives are scarce.

Q7. How early should I arrive at the airport during a winter storm?
Most airports and airlines advise arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures, and during severe weather many suggest adding extra time to account for slower security lines and road conditions.

Q8. Will my airline cover hotel costs if I am stranded overnight?
Because these disruptions are weather-related, airlines are less likely to cover hotel stays, though some may offer discounted rates or limited vouchers as a goodwill gesture; travelers should ask at the customer service desk and also check whether their credit card or travel insurance provides benefits.

Q9. What can I do to prepare if I must travel through affected airports this week?
Passengers should enroll in airline alerts, keep the carrier’s app installed and updated, pack essentials in carry-on luggage, and consider building extra time into connections in case delays cascade through the system.

Q10. Are more storms expected that could worsen the situation?
Meteorologists are monitoring additional systems that could move across the Midwest and Great Lakes later in the week, so travelers with flexible plans may want to watch forecasts closely and be prepared to adjust itineraries if new advisories or warnings are issued.