ORLANDO, Fla. – Snow-coated runways and icy roads throughout the southeast forced airlines to cancel more flights arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport on Wednesday.
[MORE INFO: Track flight delays at OIA]
Officials said there were 25 cancellations and 41 delays of more than 30 minutes from midnight to noon on Wednesday.
In all, more than 3,000 flights throughout the country have been cancelled because of the snow and ice that fell in several parts of the southeastern United States -- areas that usually do not see wintry weather.
"I just want to get home to my family," said Jakavis Joyner.
Joyner's flight to Atlanta was canceled three times on Tuesday, causing him to miss the connection to his home of Jackson, Miss.
"At first, I had a flight at 3:30 p.m., then it got canceled," he said. "I had another flight at 7:30 p.m. and it got canceled. So they put me on another flight in the morning."
Hotels around OIA sold out quickly Tuesday night.
Local 6 checked out several hotels around the airport for rates Wednesday night, which is expected to be another busy night of cancellations, and rates had already nearly doubled.
Airlines are warning passengers to check their flights before they head to the airport, just in case Mother Nature throws them a detour.