A “deadly” storm in the US and a polar vortex in eastern Canada has already forced nearly 10,000 cancelled weekend flights. And it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
As of 10:30 a.m. ET on 24JAN, Flight Aware said there had already been nearly 3,500 flights cancelled in and out of the US for Saturday and 170 at YYZ, which is facing bitterly cold conditions and a forecast of up to 20cm of snow on 25JAN. Their stats show Air Canada has cancelled 77 flights on 23JAN, while Air Canada Jazz is at 83 cancellations and Air Canada Rouge at 19.
The situation looks even worse for Sunday 25JAN, as the website is reporting 8,800 cancelled flights already for the US, and almost 500 cancellations at Pearson, which is more than one-third of all scheduled flights.
“Two-thirds of the US population is facing down a monster winter storm and extreme cold,” CNN stated in a story posted 24JAN. “The storm’s snow and ice will stretch over 2,000 miles from Texas to New England as it tracks east through the weekend.”
The Weather Network is calling for bitterly cold temperatures in Toronto and Montreal on the weekend and on into next week. The network also reports that both YYZ and YUL could see up to 20 cm’s of snow on 25JAN and 26JAN.
Air Canada has travel advisories listed for 25JAN for more than a dozen airports, including LGA, BOS, DFA, JFK, YOW, YQB and DCA. It’s a similar story for 26JAN.
WestJet has advisories posted over the next few days for YHZ, YQB, ATL, YYZ, YHM, YUL, YOW and more.
“It’s a bitterly cold morning with temperatures feeling like -24°C with the windchill,” Pearson officials said on their X/Twitter feed on 24JAN. “We are closely monitoring the impact of the frigid temperatures on operations, while also preparing for snow forecast for tomorrow.”
Here’s a look at the situation for the next few days at major airports in Canada and the US. All stats courtesy of Flight Aware.
24JAN CANCELLED FLIGHTS BY AIRPORT (as of 10:30 a.m. ET)
DFW: 1,292
CLT: 425
BNA: 322
ATL : 255
ORD : 191
YYZ: 172
LGA : 92
24JAN CANCELLED FLIGHTS BY AIRLINE (as of 10:30 a.m. ET)
American Airlines: 861 (28%)
Southwest: 571 (19%)
Delta Air Lines: 200 (6%)
Air Canada: 77 (14%)
Air Canada Jazz: (25%)
Air Canada Rouge: (19%)
25JAN CANCELLED FLIGHTS BY AIRPORT (as of 10:30 a.m. ET on 24JAN)
CLT: 975
DCA: 746
LGA: 699
ATL: 683
YYZ : 393
IAD : 331
ORD : 314
BOS : 249
YUL : 70
25JAN CANCELLED FLIGHTS BY AIRLINE (as of 10:30 a.m. ET on 24JAN)
American Airlines: 890 (28%)
Delta Air Lines: 808 (25%)
Southwest: 672 (17%)
United: 432 (15%)
Air Canada: 183 (34%)
Air Canada Jazz: 135 (38%)
Air Canada Rouge: 45 (45%)
