US snowstorm chaos: Over 9,000 flights hit; emergency orders in New York, New Jersey

A powerful winter storm sweeping across the US Northeast and Great Lakes disrupted peak post-Christmas travel, grounding thousands of flights and prompting emergency declarations in several states.

Snow and ice battered major transport hubs from Friday into Saturday, leaving travellers stranded at airports and forcing authorities to urge people to stay off the roads during one of the busiest travel windows of the year.By early Saturday evening, more than 9,000 domestic flights across the United States had been cancelled or delayed, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware, as per Reuters.

The worst disruption was concentrated around the New York metropolitan area, with John F.

Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports all heavily affected. Airlines including American, United and JetBlue confirmed they had waived change fees for passengers whose plans were disrupted by the weather.New York City, New Jersey and large parts of the wider Northeast were placed under states of emergency as snow mixed with sleet created treacherous driving conditions. Officials warned that icy roads and reduced visibility posed serious risks, particularly for those attempting long-distance holiday journeys.

Snowfall hits New York, airports and roads hardestNew York City recorded its most significant snowfall in several years, with 4.3 inches covering Central Park by early Saturday — the first time more than four inches had fallen since January 2022. Areas north and east of the city, including parts of Long Island, Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, saw higher totals, while Belleayre Mountain in the Catskills recorded the region’s heaviest snowfall at 13 inches.

Despite earlier forecasts predicting even heavier snow, the reduced totals were still enough to cause major disruption.

Around 20 per cent of departures from JFK and LaGuardia were cancelled by midday Saturday, with a further 15 per cent delayed. Newark Liberty Airport issued repeated snow warnings, cautioning passengers to expect ongoing disruption.Emergency declarations and travellers caught outNew York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency across more than half the state, while acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way issued a similar order. Way warned that the storm would “cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel”, urging people to avoid unnecessary journeys and allow crews to clear roads safely.At street level, city workers were deployed across New York, clearing snow from pavements and roads in areas such as Times Square. Some visitors embraced the rare winter scene. Tourists from North Carolina and West Virginia described the snowfall as unexpected but memorable, even as travel delays mounted.