BOSTON (AP) – A winter storm significantly impacted travel across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, leading to the cancellation or delay of over a thousand flights during a busy travel period between Christmas and New Year’s. Many travelers took to U.S. roads and airports as the storm brought about challenging conditions.
New York City experienced approximately four inches of snow from Friday night into early Saturday, slightly below the forecasts. Flight-tracking service FlightAware reported at least 1,500 flights were canceled starting Friday night. However, conditions began to improve by Saturday morning, as both road and air travel cleared up.
Bob Oravec, a Maryland-based forecaster with the National Weather Service, stated, “The storm is definitely winding down, a little bit of flurries across the Northeast this morning.” The storm moved quickly from the northwest toward the Southeast U.S., with some locations in the New York area witnessing more than six inches (15 centimeters) of snow, particularly in central eastern Long Island. Areas in the Catskills were even recorded with up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snowfall.
Airports such as Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International, and LaGuardia issued snow warnings via the social media platform X. These warnings highlighted the potential for flight disruptions caused by the adverse weather conditions. The National Weather Service also cautioned about hazardous travel conditions stretching from the Great Lakes through the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England regions. They warned of the likelihood of tree damage and power outages, although forecasters anticipated the storm’s intensity to diminish by Saturday morning.
In Times Square, street workers dressed in red jumpsuits were busy clearing the mix of sludge and snow covering streets and sidewalks using shovels and snowblowers. Jennifer Yokley, visiting from North Carolina, expressed her excitement about witnessing the snowy scenes, saying, “I think it was absolutely beautiful.”
Visitors to New York City, Payton Baker and Kolby Gray from West Virginia, described the snowfall as a delightful surprise during their third anniversary trip. Baker remarked on the cold weather, noting, “It was very unexpected.” She acknowledged that the city’s efforts to salt the roads were efficient, making travel manageable.
As a precautionary measure ahead of the storm, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for more than half of New York State. This was echoed by Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way, who declared a state of emergency for the entire state of New Jersey due to dangerous weather conditions resulting from the severe winter storm. Way urged travelers to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm and advised them to allow roadway crews to perform their duties effectively. She emphasized the importance of planning travel around the weather, monitoring conditions, and adhering to all safety protocols.
Amidst the chaos of winter travel during the holiday season, communities in the affected regions adjusted to the rapidly changing weather. The blend of festive celebrations and challenging weather conditions brought both joy and caution for travelers and state officials alike.
