Weekend Travel: What the Northeast Snowstorm Means for Your Plans

From Sunday evening into Monday, February 22–23, 2026, a rapidly intensifying nor'easter produced heavy, wind-driven snow across the U.S. Northeast. The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings from Maryland to Massachusetts and coastal flood warnings in some areas as state officials declared emergencies and restricted non-essential travel. Because winds were strong and visibility could fall to near zero, many local agencies warned that travel might be dangerous for hours.

Air travel was deeply affected: FlightAware showed around 12,400 delays and about 3,000 cancellations by midmorning Sunday, and airlines canceled additional flights preemptively to protect schedules. Major carriers issued travel waivers so passengers could rebook without fees, while airport hubs at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Boston operated on reduced schedules. In some cases, ground stops and traffic-management actions were implemented to limit arrivals into congested airspace.

Rail and road services were also altered as Amtrak adjusted Northeast schedules and states imposed vehicle bans for large commercial trucks on key highways. Coastal flooding and gusts near 50 miles per hour raised the prospect of downed trees and power outages in communities with exposed lines. If you are traveling into the storm zone, have warm clothing, water, medicines and contact numbers ready; flights and trains that are canceled or delayed may not be rebooked immediately.

The U.S. Department of Transportation requires automatic refunds when passengers do not accept rebooking after a cancellation, and keeping records helps if you seek reimbursement for expenses. Should you face a canceled trip, check your airline app early, keep receipts for any unavoidable costs, and be prepared to delay travel until conditions and schedules have stabilized.