US hit by powerful snowstorm as thousands of flights are canceled
Storm hits New York (Photo: Getty Images)
A snowstorm has slammed the northeastern US, with states of emergency declared in several states. Thousands of flights have been canceled, leaving passengers stranded at airports, reports Reuters.
New York and New Jersey buried under snow
The storm disrupted air travel after the holiday weekend and prompted authorities in New York and New Jersey to declare a weather-related state of emergency. Residents across much of the Northeast were advised to avoid driving due to hazardous conditions.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that the safety of residents is her top priority and continued to urge extreme caution throughout the storm.
By Saturday morning, between six and ten inches of snow (15–25 centimeters) had fallen across an area stretching from Syracuse in central New York state to Long Island in the southeast, as well as in Connecticut.
In New York City, two to four inches of snow fell 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. “Only a few flurries remain this morning, and those will taper off by the afternoon,” said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center near Washington, D.C.
Thousands of flights canceled, travelers stranded at airports
Travelers, however, continued to feel the impact. According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, by Saturday evening, more than 9,000 domestic US flights had been canceled or delayed, many of them in the New York area, including at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Representatives of American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways told Reuters that the airlines waived change fees - normally charged for rebooking - for passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by weather-related delays.
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts under threat
Ice storm warnings and winter weather advisories were also issued for much of Pennsylvania and large parts of Massachusetts.
In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, restrictions were imposed on commercial traffic along some roads, including many interstate highways.
“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel,” New Jersey Acting Governor Tahesha Way said in a statement.
“We are urging travellers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to roads,” she added.
Meanwhile, Southern California was recently hit by heavy rainfall that triggered widespread flash flooding, putting Los Angeles under a tornado threat.
It was also reported that three people were killed in Southern California due to a winter storm, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency.
