Winter storm snarls post-holiday travel across US Northeast, thousands of flights disrupted

US news

A powerful winter storm swept across the US Northeast early Saturday, severely disrupting post-holiday travel as snow and ice grounded thousands of flights, snarled road traffic and prompted emergency declarations in several states.

The storm brought several inches of snow from Pennsylvania to New England, with the heaviest impact felt across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Authorities urged residents to avoid travel amid hazardous conditions caused by snow, sleet and freezing rain.

New York City recorded about two to four inches of snow overnight, with Central Park reporting more than four inches, the city’s most significant snowfall in years. Heavier accumulation was reported in parts of Long Island, the Catskills and central New York, where snowfall ranged between six and 10 inches. Several areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts also saw substantial snowfall.

Flights cancelled, airports disrupted

Air travel faced major disruption as the storm coincided with the busy period between Christmas and New Year’s. According to FlightAware, more than 14,000 domestic US flights were cancelled or delayed by Saturday morning, with the majority of disruptions centred on major New York-area airports.

John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport issued snow advisories warning travellers of delays. An additional 2,000 international flights scheduled to arrive in or depart from the United States were also cancelled.

Major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways, announced weather-related travel waivers, allowing passengers to change bookings without penalty.

States of emergency declared

Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency due to dangerous travel conditions. Commercial vehicle restrictions were imposed on several highways, including major interstates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Ahead of the storm, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency across more than half of the state. Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way also announced a statewide emergency, citing “a severe winter storm causing dangerous weather conditions, including heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.”

“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel," Way said in a statement.

The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories and ice storm warnings across large parts of the Northeast, cautioning about slippery roads, reduced visibility, possible power outages, and potential tree damage.

Storm begins to weaken

Forecasters said the storm was fast-moving and began weakening by Saturday morning. While light flurries lingered into the afternoon, officials warned that ice and slush could continue to pose risks for travellers.

“The storm is definitely winding down, a little bit of flurries across the Northeast this morning,” said Bob Oravec, a Maryland-based forecaster at the National Weather Service.

Cleanup crews worked across major cities to clear roads, sidewalks and airport runways as conditions gradually improved. In New York City’s Times Square, municipal workers used shovels and snowblowers to remove snow and slush from streets and walkways.

Despite the disruption, some visitors welcomed the snowfall. “I think it was absolutely beautiful,” one tourist said. Visitors Payton Baker and Kolby Gray, travelling from West Virginia, described the snow as an unexpected surprise during their anniversary trip.

“Well, it’s very cold, and it was very unexpected,” Baker said. “The city is working pretty well to get all the roads salted and everything, so it’s all right.”

Authorities continued to urge caution as cleanup efforts remained underway and residual icy conditions lingered across parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes region.