Some flight cancellations and delays continue after US storms dump snow in the Midwest and head east

Hundreds of flights across the United States were canceled or delayed Tuesday following powerful storms that swept across the eastern half of the country, compounding travel woes already aggravated by a partial government shutdown affecting airport security operations.

By early Tuesday, more than 550 flights scheduled to operate within, into, or out of the United States had been canceled, with an additional 460 experiencing delays, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. The disruptions followed a Monday that saw massive cancellations at major hubs including Chicago O’Hare International, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, and New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration implemented ground stops at Atlanta and Charlotte Douglas International airports and ordered ground delays at JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport due to severe weather conditions. The storm system, which brought heavy snow across the Midwest before racing toward the East Coast, prompted National Weather Service warnings about potential high winds and tornadoes.

For stranded passengers like Kelly Price, who was attempting to return to Colorado after a family vacation in Orlando, the situation has become increasingly frustrating. “By the time our Sunday night flight was canceled early Monday, the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor,” Price said. Her family couldn’t secure another flight until Tuesday afternoon.

Similarly, Danielle Cash found herself unexpectedly stranded in snowy St. Louis while trying to return to Tampa after a weekend trip to Las Vegas. “It was 80 degrees in Tampa when I left and then going to Vegas, it was 90 degrees in the desert,” Cash explained, noting she was unprepared for winter weather and now faces several hundred dollars in unplanned hotel expenses.

The travel disruptions come at an especially challenging time as the partial government shutdown that began February 14 continues to strain Transportation Security Administration operations. TSA screeners missed their first full paycheck over the weekend, marking the third shutdown in less than a year to leave them temporarily without pay.

The current shutdown affects only the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the TSA. Congressional Democrats have stated that Homeland Security won’t receive funding until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year.

The impact on security operations is becoming increasingly apparent at airports nationwide. Some locations report longer security lines as TSA workers take second jobs, struggle to afford gas for their commutes, or leave the profession altogether. According to Homeland Security, more than 300 TSA agents have quit since the shutdown began.

In Atlanta, TSA union leaders held a news conference outside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Monday, warning travelers to expect increasingly long wait times as the shutdown persists. “Many TSA workers are coping with eviction notices, vehicle repossessions, empty refrigerators, and overdrawn bank accounts,” said Aaron Barker, a local leader with the American Federation of Government Employees.

The situation has already prompted advisories at multiple airports. Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans recommended travelers arrive at least three hours early “due to impacts from the federal government’s partial shutdown.” In Austin, Texas, security lines were seen extending onto the sidewalk outside the terminal as early as 5:30 a.m. local time.

The timing is particularly problematic for the aviation industry, as airports are currently managing spring break travelers alongside fans heading to NCAA March Madness basketball tournament games across the country.

Atlanta traveler Mel Stewart, who arrived four hours early for his flight to account for potential security delays, expressed frustration with the political impasse. “I think it’s being politicized way too much—way too much,” Stewart said. “These people are working. They work hard, and for TSA people not to get paid, that’s silly.”

As the shutdown continues with no immediate resolution in sight, industry experts caution that air travel disruptions could worsen, particularly if more TSA employees leave their positions or weather conditions further complicate flight operations during the busy spring travel season.