Thousands of travelers are stranded across Florida as a powerful winter storm paralyzes the northeastern United States, triggering widespread flight cancellations and delays. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers is particularly affected, with approximately 90 flights canceled and over a dozen delayed as of late Monday, February 23, 2026.
The disruptions stem from Winter Storm Hernando, described as a “classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter” by the National Weather Service. The storm is impacting a densely populated region from Maryland to Maine, with some areas receiving over two feet of snow. Meteorologists are calling it the strongest storm in a decade, leading to road travel bans, blizzard warnings, and the closure of schools and businesses, including New York City public schools, which experienced their first “snow day” in six years.
While Southwest Florida is currently experiencing clear weather, the cascading effects of the storm in the Northeast are overwhelming the aviation system. Airlines are struggling with aircraft and crew shortages, leading to limited rebooking options for stranded passengers. One traveler at RSW reported being stuck at the airport since early Monday morning with no available flights until later in the week.
Nationwide, more than 5,500 U.S. Flights have been canceled, according to preliminary reports. Airports in Orlando and Tampa are also reporting significant cancellations, ranking among the highest in the nation for disruptions. The storm has even prompted the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting.
The National Weather Service is tracking another storm system that could bring additional snowfall to the region later this week. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect across the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast, with Blizzard Warnings issued from Delaware to Connecticut, including New York City and Long Island. The rapid intensification of the storm, with central pressure forecast to fall more than 24 millibars in 24 hours, is creating severe winds exceeding 70 mph and the threat of coastal flooding.
The storm is also bringing an intense cold snap to the Southeast and Florida, with temperatures expected to fall below freezing Monday and Tuesday as an Arctic air mass moves south. This marks the first blizzard warning in the Northeast since February 9, 2017.
