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With the holiday season in full swing and numerous travel plans in place, the current travel chaos is occurring during one of the year’s most active periods for journeys. New York is preparing for a significant snow event, one of the most severe in recent memory, which is causing widespread flight cancellations during this crucial holiday travel window. As of Friday afternoon, over 1,600 flights nationwide had been grounded, according to Bloomberg, referencing FlightAware data. A snowplow was seen clearing the Brooklyn Bridge amidst falling snow during the winter storm in New York City, as captured by REUTERS. In anticipation of the harsh weather, New Jersey and New York have declared states of emergency, as reported by ABC News.
Travel impacted
These travel interruptions are occurring during one of the year’s peak travel periods. The American Automobile Association had forecast that an unprecedented number of Americans would travel at least 50 miles from their residences between December 20th and January 1st, a figure representing a 2% rise from the previous year.
AAA anticipated that approximately 109.5 million Americans would travel by car for the holidays, with around 8 million opting for air travel. However, unfavorable weather conditions, exacerbated by La Niña, have disrupted holiday travel arrangements.
According to Bloomberg, JetBlue Airways Corp experienced the highest volume of flight cancellations on Friday, followed by Delta Air Lines Inc. JetBlue alone saw roughly 350 flights canceled between Friday and Saturday.
The winter storm significantly impacted operations at New York City’s three primary airports – LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark – with an anticipated 9 inches (23 centimeters) of snowfall. Flight cancellations and delays were also reported at airports in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Boston, as per Bloomberg. In California, heavy rainfall, mudslides, and flooding led to road closures, while the Great Lakes region is contending with accumulating ice.
Officials issue advisory
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York advised residents to stay informed about regional weather updates and refrain from non-essential journeys due to the approaching winter storm. She emphasized in an X post, «Should travel be unavoidable, thorough preparation, a deliberate pace, and ample time allocation are crucial for a secure arrival at your destination.»
