More than 5,500 flights across the United States were canceled by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, February 23, 2026, as a powerful winter storm brought travel to a near standstill across the Northeast. The storm, described as a “classic cyclone bomb” by the National Weather Service, is impacting air travel from Maryland to Maine.
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport are experiencing the highest number of cancellations, followed by airports in Boston, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. According to FlightAware, over 6,000 flights had been canceled and more than 15,000 delayed as of Monday morning. The disruptions extend beyond Monday, with nearly 1,600 flights already canceled for Tuesday.
The storm has dumped significant snowfall across the region. The MacArthur Airport in Long Island, New York, reported 57 centimeters of snow, while Newark, New Jersey, accumulated 46 centimeters. Even Central Park in New York City saw 38 centimeters of snowfall. Accumulations in Connecticut and Rhode Island exceeded 40 centimeters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is urging travelers to monitor flight status updates and check with their airlines for the latest information. The National Weather Service has warned of “extremely dangerous” conditions for air travel, advising against non-essential travel.
While Sunday saw over 4,000 flight cancellations, the number of delays surpassed Monday’s figures, exceeding 24,000. Passengers are advised to utilize flight tracking websites such as Flighty, FlightAware, and TripIt for real-time updates.
Several states, including Rhode Island and New Jersey, have issued travel bans for non-essential personnel. Alerts have been extended from Maryland to Maine, with wind gusts exceeding 70 mph and near-zero visibility reported in some areas.
