Winter storm grips US: Snow and ice disrupt holiday travel in northeast; flights canceled

A winter storm bringing a mix of snow and ice swept across the US Northeast on Saturday, disrupting post-holiday travel and prompting New York and New Jersey to declare weather emergencies.

The National Weather Service issued ice storm and winter storm warnings across much of New York state and Connecticut, forecasting heavy snowfall of up to a foot in parts of Long Island and the Hudson Valley. By 8.00 pm (local time), snow accumulations had reached 3 inches in Somers, New York, 2.2 inches in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and 1.9 inches in Islip on Long Island, according to weather officials, as cited by New York Times.


Snowfall totals in New York City remained relatively light, with 0.3 inches recorded in Central Park and 0.1 inches each at LaGuardia and John F Kennedy airports. However, forecasters warned that snowfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour overnight could significantly increase accumulations.

Flight disruptions across the region

The storm, arriving during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year following Christmas, caused flight disruptions and added to challenges for holiday travelers across the region.

Flight disruptions continued into Saturday, with FlightAware reporting the cancellation of another 650 flights scheduled to depart from or arrive in the United States.

American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways said they had waived change fees for passengers needing to rebook due to weather-related disruptions, as cited by Reuters. Meanwhile, New Jersey and Pennsylvania imposed commercial vehicle restrictions on several roadways, including major interstate highways, as conditions deteriorated.

"This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel," Tahesha Way, New York's acting governor, said in a statement, as cited by Reuters. "We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to roads."

More than 1,600 commercial flights within the United States and on international routes to and from the country were canceled on Friday as worsening weather conditions disrupted air travel, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. An additional 7,800 flights were delayed.

The three major airports serving the New York City area, John F Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, and LaGuardia, accounted for most of Friday’s flight cancellations. All three airports issued advisories through X, warning travelers of potential disruptions.