Winter Storm Causes Mass Flight Cancellations, Emergencies Across Northeast US

Winter Storm Causes Mass Flight Cancellations, Emergencies Across Northeast US

A powerful winter storm battered New York City and the northeastern United States, triggering widespread flight cancellations and delays and disrupting one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

At least 1,500 flights were cancelled or delayed across the Northeast, while more than 9,000 flights nationwide have been affected since Friday night, according to FlightAware, as heavy snow and icy conditions crippled air and road travel.

Forecasters had warned of up to 11 inches of snow across parts of New York and New Jersey, particularly in northern sections of the metropolitan area. Although New York City recorded 4.3 inches of snow—its heaviest snowfall since 2022—the storm still caused major disruption to holiday travel plans.

Major airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport issued snow advisories, warning passengers of continued delays and cancellations due to deteriorating weather conditions.

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Both New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said city agencies were fully mobilised, sharing images of snowploughs and salt spreaders deployed across city streets.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul advised residents to stay off the roads where possible, while New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way formally declared a statewide emergency, warning of icy and slippery conditions.

The National Weather Service had forecast 6 to 11 inches of snow from upstate New York to Long Island, with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 12 inches. To combat icy roads, New York’s Department of Sanitation pre-positioned 700 million pounds of salt.

The impact of the storm extended beyond the Northeast. Airports in Florida, including Orlando, experienced hundreds of delayed flights, while San Francisco also reported disruptions linked to the severe weather system.

In the western United States, dangerous conditions were reported in the Sierra Nevada, where snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour were expected. At Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in California, two ski patrollers were injured in an avalanche after the resort recorded more than five feet of snow since Tuesday. Elsewhere, emergency crews rescued a backcountry skier buried by an avalanche near Mount Rose, close to Reno, Nevada.

Authorities across affected regions continue to urge caution as the storm system moves eastward, warning that travel disruptions and hazardous conditions may persist.

Winter Storm Causes Mass Flight Cancellations, Emergencies Across Northeast US

SKYNEWS