Historic winter storm blankets U.S. Midwest, East

Source: Xinhua| 2026-01-26 00:26:45|Editor:

Passengers wait at LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported. Meanwhile, over 30,000 flights have been disrupted nationwide, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos.

Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported.

According to real-time flight tracking data, virtually all departures and arrivals at LaGuardia Airport have been suspended, leaving passengers stranded.

Nearly 200 million people are affected and under some type of winter weather alert on the powerful winter storm's 2,300-mile journey across the United States right now, breaking the record for the most number of U.S. counties simultaneously under a winter storm warning.

Nationwide, 846,000 power outages have so far been reported, 27,700 flights have been disrupted, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather.

The FOX Forecast Center says the snow will transition to sleet in the hours ahead, and continue to make driving hazardous throughout the region.

In anticipation of the winter storm, U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday approved a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration for 10 states. ■

This photo taken on Jan. 25, 2026 shows a screen displaying flight information at LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos.

Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported.

Meanwhile, over 30,000 flights have been disrupted nationwide, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Snow removers are at work at LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States, Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos.

Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported.

Meanwhile, over 30,000 flights have been disrupted nationwide, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A passenger walks past a check-in area at LaGuardia Airport in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos.

Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported.

Meanwhile, over 30,000 flights have been disrupted nationwide, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported.

Meanwhile, over 30,000 flights have been disrupted nationwide, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York City so far on Sunday, 93 percent of the airport's entire-day schedule, local media reported.

Meanwhile, over 30,000 flights have been disrupted nationwide, and 21 states have announced State of Emergency, according to Fox Weather. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People walk amid snow at Times Square in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A snowplow clears snow from a road in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Snowplows are pictured on a snow-covered road in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People walk on a street amid snow in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People push a car stuck in snow in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

This photo taken on Jan. 25, 2026 shows the New York Stock Exchange amid snow in New York, the United States. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A pedestrian walks past the World Trade Center subway station amid snow in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A man clears snow from a road in New York, the United States, on Jan. 25, 2026. A historic winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest and eastern parts of the United States on Sunday, causing unprecedented travel chaos. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)