USA, the disastrous consequences of winter storm Fern

On the weekend of January 24, 2026, Winter Storm Fern struck the Midwest and Northeast of the United States with unprecedented ferocity, transforming the tourism landscape into a logistical nightmare. This next-generation « bomb cyclone » didn’t just dust cities with snow; it paralyzed international travel and drastically reshaped the geography of winter vacations.

Air « Mega-Hubs » at a standstill

The most immediate consequence was the saturation of major air hubs. Chicago O’Hare, JFK, and Boston Logan have already canceled more than 4,500 flights in 48 hours.

The blockade of the northern hubs is causing massive delays on flights to the Sun Belt (Florida, Arizona), trapping thousands of European and Canadian tourists in transit.

Unlike past crises, airlines are now making extensive use of predictive AI to reroute passengers before they even arrive at the airport, limiting scenes of chaos in the terminals, but at the cost of significantly longer travel times.

Hotel Industry: Between Mass Cancellations and « Shipwreck Tourism »
The accommodation sector is experiencing a mixed shock:

New York and Philadelphia have seen their occupancy rates plummet by 30% following last-minute cancellations by domestic travelers.

Conversely, establishments located near terminals are fully booked, turning tourists into « shipwrecked travelers » for several nights, artificially inflating ancillary revenues (food, services) for these establishments.

The Paradox of White Gold: Skiing vs. Accessibility

For ski resorts in Vermont and New York State, Fern is a poisoned chalice. While an exceptional layer of powder promises a record-breaking end to the season, access roads are impassable, and avalanche risks are forcing the precautionary closure of many resorts.

The losses for this crucial January weekend already amount to tens of millions of dollars for the Appalachian resorts.

A significant impact on Cruises and Tours

The ports of New York and Bayonne (NJ) have had to suspend cruise departures to the Bahamas and Bermuda.

Ships returning north are forced to remain offshore or extend their Caribbean stops, generating unexpected operating costs for the cruise lines and disrupting sailing schedules.