Severe Winter Storm Causes Flight Cancellations and Travel Disruptions in New York Region
As of Friday night, approximately 1,600 US flights have been canceled and 7,400 delayed, according to FlightAware. The most affected airports include JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia, with additional impacts seen in Boston, Chicago, and Toronto.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from 16:00 on Friday to 13:00 on Saturday, forecasting up to 9 inches of snow for New York City and southern Connecticut. The heaviest snowfall is expected between 18:00 local time and midnight.
Several airlines reported significant flight cancellations: JetBlue canceled 229 flights; Delta canceled 241; Republic Airways canceled 180; Southwest Airlines canceled 151; and American and United Airlines combined canceled about 100 flights. Airports have urged travelers to check their flight status with airlines ahead of travel.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul advised residents to avoid unnecessary trips, plan ahead, travel slowly, and allow sufficient time for safe travel. Governors of New Jersey and Connecticut issued similar travel warnings.
This marks New York City's second major snowfall this season, following several inches of snow on 14 December. Mayor Eric Adams encouraged drivers to leave early or use public transportation to navigate the challenging conditions.
