A powerful winter storm swept across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the United States, throwing holiday travel plans into disarray for thousands. The heavy snowfall and hazardous conditions led to the delay or cancellation of more than a thousand flights during the crucial travel period between Christmas and New Year's.
Widespread Flight Cancellations and Airport Warnings
According to data from the flight-tracking service FlightAware, the storm forced the cancellation of at least 1,500 flights from Friday night through Saturday. Major travel hubs were severely impacted. Airports including Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy, and LaGuardia took to social media platform X to issue snow warnings, alerting passengers that adverse weather could disrupt operations.
The National Weather Service echoed these alerts, warning of hazardous travel conditions stretching from the Great Lakes through the northern mid-Atlantic and into southern New England. The service also highlighted risks of tree damage and potential power outages due to the storm's intensity.
States Declare Emergency Amidst Travel Chaos
In anticipation of the severe weather, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for more than half of the state. Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way swiftly followed suit, declaring an emergency for the entire state of New Jersey.
"This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel," Governor Way stated, as reported by the Associated Press (AP). She urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm to allow road crews to work efficiently and advised drivers to monitor conditions, plan accordingly, and follow all safety protocols.
Snowfall Falls Short of Predictions But Disruption High
Interestingly, the actual snowfall in New York City measured just under three inches, which was about half of what some initial forecasts had predicted. Despite this, the storm's impact was widespread and significant. The National Weather Service in New York confirmed that a fast-moving winter system had brought a mix of heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain to New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut overnight.
Latest data from the NWS shows moderate snowfall was recorded across New York City, with higher accumulations east and northeast of the metropolitan area. While forecasters expected the storm to weaken by Saturday morning, the damage to holiday travel schedules was already done, leaving many passengers stranded and roads treacherous during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
