Major US Storm Triggers Grid Emergency, Over 10,000 Flight Cancellations

A severe winter storm sweeping across the US triggered a Level 2 energy emergency in the Midcontinent grid on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and caused massive travel disruptions. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) declared the emergency due to surging demand, forced power-plant outages, and limited transfer capability. The storm has led to more than 10,000 flight cancellations through Monday, heavily impacting major hubs. Power prices in the PJM Interconnection grid spiked to over $3,000 per megawatt-hour early Saturday. The storm, expected to dump up to 20 inches of snow in Boston and 14 inches in New York, may cause up to $24 billion in damages and economic losses, according to Enki Research.