Historic cold disrupts flights at Miami, Fort Lauderdale airports

A rare winter storm bringing record-low temperatures to South Florida has triggered widespread flight delays and cancellations at the region’s major airports, officials said Sunday. Miami International Airport (MIA) issued a weather advisory warning travelers that Winter Storm Gianna was causing significant operational disruptions. "The combination of cancellations and record-low temperatures is also impacting baggage processing. Airline teams are working diligently to process passenger baggage as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these weather-related challenges," the airport said in a tweet on Sunday.

⚠️ #WeatherAdvisory (02/01/26) ⚠️ Winter Storm Gianna is leading to significant flight delays and cancellations. Travelers should check directly with their airline for the latest flight status before heading to the airport. The combination of cancellations and record-low… pic.twitter.com/23vhPLmx75

— Miami Int'l Airport (@iflymia) February 1, 2026

Travelers were urged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information before heading to the airport. As of Sunday, MIA reported 115 flight delays and 22 cancellations. At Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, officials recorded 86 delays and 39 cancellations. The disruptions followed a historic chill overnight, with Miami’s temperature dropping to 35 degrees Fahrenheit early Sunday morning—the coldest reading since January 10, 2010, when the city also reached 35 degrees. Fort Lauderdale recorded the same low. The cold snap extended across much of Florida, with reports of snow flurries in the Tampa Bay area on Saturday night. Snow flurries were also observed in Tallahassee. Florida has seen snowfall only a handful of times in recent decades. The last reported flurries occurred in January 2010 and December 1989, while the most significant snowfall on record was in January 1977, when about two inches fell roughly 20 miles east of Tampa. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for parts of South Florida, set to take effect at 7 p.m. Sunday and remain in place until 9 a.m. Monday. Airport officials thanked passengers for their patience as crews continue to manage weather-related challenges and restore normal operations.