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Winter Storm Strands Travelers: Mom, Daughter Enjoy NYC Extended Stay
25 Jan
Summary
- A mother and daughter's Texas trip was extended due to a major winter storm.
- Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed across the U.S. over the weekend.
- Some travelers rerouted to Florida to avoid further disruptions.
A significant winter storm caused extensive travel disruptions across the United States, leading to numerous flight cancellations and delays over the weekend of January 24-25, 2026. Shannon Worley and her daughter experienced this firsthand when their planned return trip to Texas from New York was repeatedly canceled.
Originally flying to New York for a "Wicked" show, their short vacation unexpectedly extended. Their initial direct flight on Saturday, January 24, was canceled, followed by a rebooked connecting flight. While her daughter found joy in the extra time exploring the city, Worley expressed concern about eventually getting home.
The storm's impact was widespread, with FlightAware reporting at least 3,800 flight cancellations on January 24 and over 8,400 for January 25. These numbers were expected to increase as the storm progressed.
In a separate instance, Jill Hite and her husband, visiting their daughter in Austin, Indiana, had their flight home canceled due to the icy weather. Facing potential further disruptions and needing to reschedule an MRI, they opted to fly to Florida and drive home from there.
