Chaos at South Florida Airports as Cold Weather Causes Delays and Cancellations

Travelers face long lines, bag processing issues, and flight disruptions at Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports

Feb. 1, 2026 at 9:47pm

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A winter storm has caused significant travel chaos at South Florida airports, with hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations reported at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Sunday. Travelers faced long lines for bag drop-off and security screening, as well as issues with bag processing due to the cold weather and flight disruptions.

Why it matters

The winter weather has had a major impact on travel plans for many people flying in and out of South Florida, causing frustration and disruption. The issues highlight the challenges airports and airlines face in dealing with unexpected weather events and their effects on operations.

The details

At MIA, there was a total of 263 delays and 25 cancellations on Sunday. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, there were 267 delays and 51 cancellations. Travelers reported long lines at the bag drop-off, with the line stretching across the American Airlines ticketing area. Passengers were eventually told to leave their bags in a designated area near the ticketing counter, leading to piles of unclaimed luggage. Travelers then faced another long line at TSA security.

  • On Sunday, February 2, 2026, there were significant delays and cancellations at South Florida airports due to the winter storm.

The players

Miami International Airport (MIA)

A major international airport serving the Miami metropolitan area.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

A major airport serving the Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood areas of South Florida.

Logan Toby

A traveler heading to Dallas from MIA.

Desiree Cedgwick

A traveler heading to Salt Lake City from MIA.

Marybel Ellen Killburn

A traveler returning home to Tennessee from MIA.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, I get it, weather is weather. But I mean, if you look at this place, bags aren't going to make the flights. Hopefully, we make the flights.”

— Logan Toby, Traveler (CBS News Miami)

“It's a big mess.”

— Desiree Cedgwick, Traveler (CBS News Miami)

“My kids are very nervous to travel back — they keep asking me if their flight's cancelled or if they're going to get home. We'll get home eventually.”

— Desiree Cedgwick, Traveler (CBS News Miami)

“We knew it was going to be impacted, so we went to Joe Stone Crab — an iconic meal. We just got here and we're going with the flow.”

— Marybel Ellen Killburn, Traveler (CBS News Miami)

What’s next

Airport and airline officials are working to address the ongoing issues and get travelers to their destinations as quickly as possible.

The takeaway

The winter weather has caused significant disruptions to travel plans in South Florida, underscoring the challenges airports and airlines face in dealing with unexpected weather events and their impact on operations. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on flight status and to allow extra time when traveling through the affected airports.