A significant winter storm made its presence felt across the United States this weekend, delivering heavy snowfall from Friday evening into Saturday. The inclement weather caused widespread flight disruptions, including numerous cancellations and delays, and left thousands without power.
The storm system primarily affected the US Northeast and Great Lakes areas. The aviation sector was severely impacted, with flight tracking data revealing that by Saturday afternoon, over 5,580 flights were delayed and at least 860 were canceled nationwide. Three major airports serving the New York metropolitan area were among those most affected. Federal aviation authorities reported that flights arriving at New York’s JFK International Airport experienced average delays of around two hours on Saturday morning. Travel advisories were in effect across regions from New York to Philadelphia, cautioning individuals about the hazardous conditions.
This severe weather event unfolded just before the busiest travel day of the holiday period, when millions were slated to fly. The storm’s impact also extended to essential services, with Michigan reporting over 30,000 homes and businesses experiencing power outages on Saturday morning due to ice-related damage to the electrical grid. State officials in New York and New Jersey had preemptively declared states of emergency, advising residents and travelers to stay updated on weather alerts and road closures, and to prioritize safety.