Published on : 23 Feb 2026
🔴 BREAKING TRAVEL ALERT | Published: February 23, 2026 | Last Updated: February 23, 2026, 8:00 AM EST
Storm Name: Winter Storm Hernando Status: ACTIVE — Blizzard Warning in effect through 6:00 PM Monday, February 23 Travel Ban: NYC Citywide ban in effect 9:00 PM Sunday – 12:00 PM Monday EST Passengers Affected: Millions across the I-95 corridor — New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. Total Flights Cancelled (Feb 22–23): 8,000+ confirmed, 22,000+ delayed
Winter Storm Hernando has turned the entire Northeast United States into a no-fly zone. The most powerful blizzard to hit New York City since 2017 is burying the region in up to 24 inches of snow, triggering citywide travel bans, state emergencies across five states, and the single largest two-day flight cancellation event of the 2026 travel season.
If you have a flight through JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark today — or any Northeast airport from Washington D.C. to Boston — here is everything you need to know right now, updated as of 8:00 AM EST, Monday February 23, 2026.
This isn’t a standard nor’easter. Winter Storm Hernando developed as a rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone — a system that “bombs out,” dropping 24+ millibars of pressure in 24 hours — forming off the North Carolina coast early February 22 before racing northeast directly into the most populated air corridor in the world.
The National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning for New York City — the first since March 2017 — covering all five boroughs, Long Island, coastal Connecticut, and the Jersey Shore. Blizzard conditions require sustained winds of 35 mph or greater with visibility below a quarter mile for three or more hours. Hernando delivered all three.
Snow rates hit 1–2 inches per hour during peak Sunday night bands. Wind gusts exceeded 55 mph across New Jersey’s coast, with gusts of up to 70 mph reported from North Carolina to Nova Scotia. Long Island is forecast to see 24–36 inches of total accumulation in some spots — potentially the deepest snowfall since the historic February 2006 storm that dumped 26.9 inches on Central Park in a single 16-hour period.
Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for 22 counties on February 21 and activated over 100 members of the National Guard. “This will be something the likes of which we’ve not seen in years,” Hochul warned. “Long Island and New York City and lower Hudson are literally in the direct eye of the storm.”
Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a citywide state of emergency on February 22 and issued an immediate travel ban.
NYC Travel Ban Details:
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a parallel travel ban starting at 9:00 PM Sunday for all of New Jersey. New Jersey Transit light rail, Access Link, and buses stopped at 6:00 PM Sunday. Amtrak and NJ Transit trains halted at 9:00 PM. In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro issued a disaster emergency declaration, with vehicle restrictions on I-76, I-78, I-95, I-276/Pennsylvania Turnpike, and over a dozen additional major roadways.
If you are in the NYC metro area, do not drive to JFK, LGA, or EWR today. The roads are legally closed to private vehicles, and AirTrain, LIRR, and NJ Transit services are severely disrupted.
The scope of this disruption is historic. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the cancellation rate at Northeast airports for Monday February 23 has reached levels not seen in years:
| Airport | Sunday Feb 22 Cancellation Rate | Monday Feb 23 Cancellation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| LaGuardia (LGA) | 46% of all flights | 83% of all flights |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | ~40% | 74% of all flights |
| Boston Logan (BOS) | ~35% | 69% of all flights |
| JFK International (JFK) | 47% of all flights | 61% of all flights |
| Newark Liberty (EWR) | 32% of all flights | High and rising |
Totals as of Sunday evening, per FlightAware:
Airlines affected include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Republic Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines — virtually every carrier operating Northeast routes.
Every major US carrier has activated travel waivers, allowing passengers to rebook without fees or fare differences. Here is a complete breakdown of each airline’s policy as of February 23, 2026:
Your Rights if Your Flight Is Cancelled: Under US Department of Transportation regulations, if an airline cancels your flight for any reason — including weather — you are entitled to a full cash refund to your original payment method, even on non-refundable tickets, if you choose not to rebook. You are not required to accept a travel credit or voucher. Demand a cash refund directly from the airline or your credit card if one is not offered.
Getting to and from NYC airports is as disrupted as the airports themselves.
AirTrain JFK: Operating but with significant delays. Check MTA real-time status before travelling.
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): Operating on a modified Sunday schedule for Monday, February 23. Severely reduced frequency. Not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
Metro-North Railroad: Running hourly schedules only for the Harlem, New Haven, and Hudson lines.
Amtrak Northeast Corridor: Widespread cancellations and delays as of Sunday night. Do not rely on Amtrak for time-sensitive airport connections today.
NJ Transit: All trains, buses, and light rail suspended from 9:00 PM Sunday until further notice.
Ride-share (Uber/Lyft): Surge pricing is extreme. NYC travel ban legally prevents most private vehicles from operating through noon Monday. Expect multi-hour waits and refusals after the ban lifts due to icy road conditions.
Taxis: Subject to the same travel ban restrictions.
JFK is operating at approximately 39–61% cancellation rate for Monday. International flights are additionally affected, with Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and KLM having cancelled multiple transatlantic and transpacific services. The FAA has implemented ground delays and ground stops for arriving traffic intermittently throughout Sunday night and Monday morning. Expect extremely long security and rebooking queues if you go to the terminal.
LGA has the highest cancellation rate of the three NYC airports at 83% for Monday — essentially a near-complete shutdown. LaGuardia’s compact footprint makes it the most severely impacted by blizzard conditions as plowing and de-icing operations struggle to keep pace.
Newark’s cancellation rate stands at 32% for Sunday and is rising sharply for Monday. NJ Transit and AirTrain Newark services are suspended or severely limited. Newark has deployed all available de-icing equipment, but conditions are expected to remain challenging through midday.
Boston is seeing 69% Monday cancellations — its worst disruption of the 2026 season. Logan is operating ground delays on arrivals. American, Delta, JetBlue, United and Southwest all have active waivers covering Boston.
PHL cancellation rate hits 74% Monday. Philadelphia declared a “Code Blue” emergency from February 22–25 due to freezing temperatures and heavy snow. Vehicle restrictions on Pennsylvania major roads are making ground access to the airport nearly impossible.
If your flight has been cancelled or you want to proactively change your travel plans, here is the fastest way to rebook under each airline’s waiver:
Step 1 — Check your flight status first. Go to flightaware.com or your airline’s app before doing anything. If your flight is already showing as cancelled, the airline’s automated system may have already rebooked you — check your email.
Step 2 — Use the airline’s app or website, NOT the phone. Phone hold times are running 2–4+ hours across all major carriers during this disruption. The app is the fastest path.
Step 3 — Know your waiver rights before you call. You are entitled to rebook for free through the dates listed above. If the agent tries to charge you a fee or fare difference, reference your airline’s published weather waiver and ask to speak to a supervisor.
Step 4 — If your flight is cancelled (not just changed), you have the right to a full cash refund. Do not let the airline push you to a credit. Say: “My flight was cancelled and I am requesting a full refund to my original payment method per DOT regulations.”
Step 5 — Consider rebooking for Wednesday or Thursday. Tuesday, February 24 still has 1,200+ cancellations already logged. The airport system needs 24–48 hours after the storm to clear backlogs, repositioned aircraft, and crew. Wednesday flights are your safest bet.
If you are AT a Northeast airport right now:
If you are at a hotel near an airport:
If you are trying to get TO a NYC airport today:
If you have an international connection at JFK or EWR:
PSEG Long Island has warned residents of significant power outage risk through the storm. NYC Mayor Mamdani cautioned that daytime temperatures above freezing followed by overnight lows dropping to the low 20s will cause snow to melt then refreeze — creating dangerously icy sidewalks and roads into Tuesday morning. Older adults are advised to stay indoors and avoid shoveling. NYC shelters remain open with a Code Blue in effect — no one will be turned away.
This is being classified as one of the most significant winter storms to impact NYC in several years. For perspective:
Monday, February 23 (TODAY): NYC travel ban in effect until noon. 80%+ cancellations at LGA, high cancellations at JFK, EWR, BOS, PHL. Avoid all unnecessary travel.
Tuesday, February 24: Storm clears, but 1,200+ Tuesday cancellations already confirmed. Airport operations slowly normalizing. Significant delays expected as airlines restore aircraft and crew positioning.
Wednesday–Thursday, February 25–26: First reasonably normal operation days post-storm, though residual delays are likely as airlines work through stranded passengers. Book for Wednesday afternoon or Thursday if rebooking now.
Important note for international travelers arriving into NYC this week: Allow extra buffer time for customs and immigration at JFK and EWR — reduced staffing and operational chaos typically follow major storm disruptions.
| Resource | Link / Number |
|---|---|
| FAA Flight Delay Info | fly.faa.gov |
| FlightAware Live Tracking | flightaware.com |
| American Airlines Waiver | aa.com/travel-alerts |
| Delta Air Lines Waiver | delta.com/us/en/travel-planning/travel-alerts |
| United Airlines Waiver | united.com/ual/en/us/travel/travel-advisories |
| JetBlue Waiver | jetblue.com/magicforms/travel-advisory |
| Southwest Waiver | southwest.com/travel-alerts |
| NYC Emergency Management | nyc.gov/oem |
| MTA Subway / LIRR Status | mta.info |
| NJ Transit Status | njtransit.com |
| Port Authority (JFK/LGA/EWR) | panynj.gov |
| National Weather Service NYC | weather.gov/okx |
If you’re flying out of NYC today: Assume your flight is cancelled or severely delayed until confirmed otherwise. Rebook now via your airline’s app for Wednesday or Thursday. Do not go to the airport until your flight is confirmed and roads have been cleared after noon.
If you’re flying INTO NYC today: Your flight will almost certainly be significantly delayed or cancelled. Contact your airline immediately to explore rebooking options. Do not travel to your departure airport until confirmed.
If you’re connecting through NYC to an international flight: This is your highest risk scenario. Contact your airline and the international carrier immediately — missed international connections during mass disruption events typically require airline re-accommodation. Know your rights.
If you’re not flying until later this week: Book for Wednesday afternoon at the earliest. Thursday is safer. The airport system needs 48 hours to fully recover from an 8,000-flight cancellation event.
Stay safe, stay informed, and do not travel unless absolutely necessary today.
For More Resources:
Related Articles:
Published: February 23, 2026. Data sourced from FlightAware, Cirium aviation analytics, National Weather Service, FAA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and official airline travel advisories. All cancellation figures and travel ban details are accurate as of 8:00 AM EST February 23, 2026 and will continue to evolve. Check your airline directly for the most current flight status.
Posted By : Vinay
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