Storm Hernando: Thousands of flights cancelled across the US
February 23, 2026
A powerful Nor’easter is crippling air travel across the US Northeast, with cancellation rates reaching the thousands and disruption expected to continue through to Tuesday. Storm Hernando is expected to bring with it a wintry ‘weather bomb’, disrupting travel across the States.
Storm Hernando: Nearly 4,000 US flights cancelled on Monday
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that as of 5:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 22, nearly 10% of all US departures had already been cancelled. The outlook for Monday is even worse.
On a typical day in the US domestic market, cancellations hover around 1%. Across the United States, 25,261 flights were scheduled to depart on Sunday, February 22. Of those, 2,503 were cancelled — a 9.91% cancellation rate.
For Monday, February 23, 25,236 flights are scheduled nationwide. As of Sunday evening, 3,855 had already been cancelled — 15.28% of the schedule — with cancellation totals expected to climb as the storm intensifies.
With nearly 40 million people under blizzard warnings, Winter Storm Hernando is expected to cause major travel disruptions across the I-95 corridor. Watch @StephanieAbrams report from Atlantic City, New Jersey: pic.twitter.com/U0m7g8m5UM
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) February 23, 2026
The hardest hit airports are concentrated in the Northeast corridor.
Sunday, February 22 (cancellations at selected major airports)
- New York JFK (JFK): 49.32% canceled (288 of 584 departures)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA): 46.03% canceled (220 of 478)
- Philadelphia: 40.22% canceled (148 of 368)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): 33.52% canceled (177 of 528)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA): 30.42% canceled (129 of 424)
- Boston (BOS): 26.21% canceled (135 of 515)
Large hubs outside the storm zone saw far lower disruption, though still higher than normal. Chicago O’Hare posted a 6.48% cancellation rate on Sunday, Atlanta 5.86%, and Dallas/Fort Worth 4.31%.
Monday’s forecast is even more severe. As Cirium data shows:
Monday, February 23 (cancellations at selected airports)
- LGA: 86.32% canceled (448 of 519)
- PHL: 81.25% canceled (299 of 368)
- BOS: 79.84% canceled (408 of 511)
- JFK: 76.20% canceled (445 of 584)
- EWR: 71.18% canceled (368 of 517)
Even secondary airports in the region, including White Plains (HPN), Providence (PVD) and Hartford (BDL), are seeing cancellation rates above 70%.
By Tuesday, February 24, cancellations remain elevated at New York and Boston airports — roughly 13% at JFK, LaGuardia and Logan. A prolonged recovery period can be expected as airlines reposition aircraft and crews.
Winter storm operations, including de-icing, runway clearing and reduced arrival rates due to low visibility, constrain airport throughput. Even airports with comparatively low cancellation percentages could experience departure delays and extended taxi times.
Effects of Storm Hernando disrupt flights nationwide
Although the epicentre of the disruption is in the Northeast, it is spreading throughout airline networks. Aircraft and crew rotations through hubs in the Northeast are critical to domestic and international schedules. Delays in arrivals and departures at these hubs can cascade across the country.
Prepare for widespread delays and cancellations on Monday as a rapidly strengthening nor'easter produces 15-40 cm of wind-swept snow. https://t.co/Okhfu0Vatl
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) February 23, 2026
Airports in Florida and the Southeast are seeing double-digit cancellation percentages.
- Orlando International Airport had 10.46% of flights cancelled on Sunday and 11.28% cancelled on Monday.
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport saw 12.32% of flight cancellations on Sunday, with 10.34% of flights cancelled for Monday
- Palm Beach International Airport had a flight cancellation rate of 29.84% on Sunday and 29.17% for Monday.
- Southwest Florida International Airport saw 14.79% of its flights cancelled on Sunday, with 17.18% on Monday.
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport had 14.15% of flights cancelled on Sunday, rising sharply to 21.63% on Monday.
US airlines offer travel waivers
Airlines are advising passengers travelling to or through New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. to check flight status frequently and consider proactively rebooking. Many carriers have issued travel waivers allowing date changes without penalty.
With nearly 4,000 cancellations already logged for Monday and additional reductions likely for Tuesday, US airlines will need time to stabilise after the storm clears. Those with some flexibility on their travel days are best advised to rebook.
Featured Image: American Airlines
