1,250+ Flights Canceled as Winter Storm Batters NY/NJ Airports
A blast of snow and ice swept across the US north east early Saturday, throwing post holiday travel into disarray, 1,250+ Flights Canceled and prompting emergency declarations in both New York and New Jersey, even as the worst of the storm eased by mid morning.
Flights Canceled
Air traffic was hit hard. More than 14,400 domestic US flights were cancelled or delayed by late morning, according to tracking service FlightAware. The disruption was concentrated in the New York metropolitan area, with major impacts at John F Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. A further 2,100 international flights scheduled to depart from or arrive in the United States were also cancelled.
Authorities urged residents to stay off the roads as conditions turned treacherous. States of emergency were declared in New York and New Jersey, with officials warning that travel could be dangerous throughout the day.
“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm,” said Kathy Hochul in a statement.
Snowfall totals were significant across a wide swath of the region. By early Saturday, between six and ten inches of snow had fallen from Syracuse in central New York to Long Island in the south east of the state, as well as across parts of Connecticut, according to the National Weather Service. New York City saw two to four inches overnight, with 4.3 inches recorded in Central Park, the city’s heaviest snowfall since 2022.
“The good news is that the heaviest snow is done,” said meteorologist Bob Oravec from the Weather Prediction Center near Washington DC. “Only a few flurries remain this morning and those will taper off by the afternoon.”
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Ice storm warnings and winter weather advisories were also issued for much of Pennsylvania and large areas of Massachusetts. In response, New Jersey and Pennsylvania imposed commercial vehicle restrictions on several roads, including major interstate highways.
“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel,” said New Jersey’s acting governor, Tahesha Way. “We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to roads.”
Across the region, temperatures remained below freezing even after snowfall eased. Weather officials warned that melting snow could refreeze, creating black ice on roads and bridges. New York authorities also activated a “code blue” to ensure homeless residents were brought indoors as the cold persisted.
While the storm’s intensity faded by Saturday morning, its impact on travel and daily life lingered, underscoring how quickly winter weather can disrupt one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
