TRAVEL & TOURISM

Chicago winter storm disrupts flights, breaks snowfall records

PUBLISHED Nov 29, 2025, 5:41 PM ET

Read, Watch or Listen

Chicago winter storm disrupts flights, breaks snowfall records

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 9

Center 100%

Sources: 9

Chicago, A major winter storm produced record November snowfall and widespread travel disruption this Saturday, causing over 930 cancellations and more than 750 delays at O'Hare and making roads hazardous. The National Weather Service forecast six to twelve inches, with O'Hare reporting 8.4 inches and Wadsworth reporting eleven inches; FlightAware and local authorities logged mass cancellations. The FAA reported deicing operations and airport closures elsewhere, and Phoenix Sky Harbor recorded delays tied to Midwest disruptions. Weather services warned of lingering snow into Monday and a separate system reaching the Northeast by Tuesday. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Sidra | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings forecasting 6–12 inches in the Chicago region before the event.
Saturday: Heavy snow led to rapid accumulations across Chicago and suburbs; airports began reporting large numbers of cancellations and delays.
FlightAware and local airport dashboards logged roughly 930–1,000+ cancellations and over 750 delays at O'Hare by Saturday afternoon.
ABC7 confirmed record November totals (O'Hare 8.4 inches; Wadsworth 11 inches) and reported roadway incidents including a large pileup in Indiana.
The FAA announced deicing events, a Des Moines airport closure, and linked delays to continued operations with forecasts warning of lingering snow into Monday and a Northeast system Tuesday.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 9
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 9
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Local hotels, ground-transportation providers, and airport service contractors saw higher bookings and revenue from stranded travelers and added operational work.

Who Impacted

Airline passengers, airport employees, and motorists suffered cancellations, delays, extended wait times, and hazardous road incidents including a major multi-vehicle pileup.