Right now, if you’re looking out a window in Queens, it’s mostly just grey. As of early Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, the temperature at John F. Kennedy International Airport is hovering at a chilly 33°F. It's cloudy, and while the wind is barely a whisper at 2 mph from the southeast, the humidity is sitting at a heavy 91%.
But don't let the quiet morning fool you.
The forecast for the rest of today is calling for snow. Specifically, we’re looking at a 59% chance of precipitation during the day, with a high of 36°F. By tonight, the chance of snow drops slightly to 45%, and the temperature will dip to a low of 25°F.
Current Status of JFK Airport Weather Delays Today
So, is the snow actually hitting the flight boards yet? Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
The FAA is currently reporting an advisory for JFK due to a Traffic Management Program. This is basically air traffic control's way of metering the flow of planes when conditions aren't perfect. Right now, arrival traffic is seeing airborne delays of about 15 minutes or less. On the departure side, you’re looking at gate holds and taxi delays, also mostly under the 15-minute mark.
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It’s not a total meltdown. Not yet, anyway.
But here is the thing: deicing operations have already kicked off at several other East Coast hubs like Buffalo and Syracuse. While JFK isn't officially under a massive ground stop for weather just yet, the surrounding airspace is getting crowded. The FAA has noted that because the traffic management program is slowing down arrivals, your departing flight might get pushed back too.
Why Queens Weather is Tricky for Travelers
JFK is literally right on the water. That means the "Queens" forecast you see on your phone might feel a little different once you're standing on the tarmac.
With 94% humidity expected today and temperatures dancing right around the freezing mark, the biggest threat to your schedule isn't necessarily a blizzard. It's the "S" word: Slush. Or rather, the freezing rain and wet snow that requires every single plane to get sprayed down with deicing fluid.
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- The Deicing Queue: Even if your plane is ready, if there are 20 planes ahead of yours waiting for the deice truck, you're sitting at the gate.
- Airborne Holding: When visibility drops at JFK, the FAA often puts planes in "holding patterns" over the Atlantic or New Jersey.
- The Ripple Effect: A delay in a flight coming from Portland (like DL451, which is scheduled to arrive at 3:09 PM) can mean the outbound flight that plane was supposed to handle gets bumped.
What Real Flight Data is Showing
If you check the boards, many international arrivals are still showing as "En Route" and mostly on time for the morning. For example, Asiana flight OZ222 from Seoul is expected around 8:41 AM, and Saudi Airlines SV021 is actually trending a bit early.
However, the domestic side is where you usually see the first signs of jfk airport weather delays today. JetBlue and Delta, which run massive operations out of Terminals 4 and 5, are the ones to watch. If the snow picks up toward the 59% probability mark this afternoon, expect those 15-minute "minor" delays to stretch into the 45-minute to hour-long range.
Actually, the FAA's current "Traffic Management" status is a preemptive move. They see the volume coming in and they know the snow is coming, so they start slowing things down now to avoid a gridlock later.
Surviving the January 18th Slush
If you're stuck at the terminal, you've basically got two choices: stress out or lean into the chaos. Terminal 4 has some decent food, but Terminal 5 (JetBlue) is arguably better for hanging out if you've got a long wait.
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The wind is expected to shift to the north at about 7 mph later today. That’s not a gale, but it’s enough to change which runways are in use. Runway changes at JFK are a notorious cause of "taxiway traffic jams."
Actionable Steps for Your Sunday Travel:
- Check the "Where is my plane" feature: Use an app like FlightAware to see if the aircraft for your flight is actually at the gate or if it's currently stuck in the deicing line in another city.
- Watch the FAA OIS: The FAA’s Operational Information System is the "source of truth." If you see "Ground Stop" or "Ground Delay Program" pop up for JFK, it’s time to look for a lounge.
- Gate-side updates: Don't rely solely on the overhead monitors. They often lag behind the pilot's actual communication with the gate agents.
- Pack the essentials: Since the low tonight is 25°F and snow is likely, make sure your heavy coat isn't buried in your checked luggage. If you get diverted or your flight is cancelled, you'll need it in the Uber line.
Bottom line: Today is a "yellow light" day at JFK. It’s not a full stop, but you should definitely give yourself an extra hour and keep your airline's app open. The combination of 33°F temps and 59% snow chance is the perfect recipe for "creeping" delays that start small and grow as the sun goes down.