Winter Storm Slams U.S. Northeast, Triggers Emergencies and Major Travel Disruptions

A powerful winter storm carrying a dangerous mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain swept across the U.S. Northeast on Saturday, prompting emergency declarations in New York and New Jersey and disrupting post-holiday air travel. The National Weather Service issued ice storm and winter storm warnings across New York, Connecticut, and neighboring states, forecasting up to a foot of snow in parts of Long Island and the Hudson Valley. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned of “treacherous road conditions,” urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel as snowfall rates of more than two inches per hour were expected in some areas.

Snow began late Friday across western New York and the New York City region before intensifying into Saturday, with many areas also facing sleet and freezing rain. Similar winter weather advisories were posted across Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and most of New Jersey, where officials also declared a state of emergency and restricted commercial vehicles on key highways. High winds accompanying the storm further heightened risks for commuters and emergency crews.

The storm wreaked havoc on air travel, with more than 1,600 U.S. flights canceled and over 7,800 delayed on Friday, according to FlightAware. New York City’s major airports — John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia — accounted for much of the disruption and warned travelers of continuing delays. Airlines including American, United, and JetBlue waived change fees for affected passengers as additional Saturday cancellations mounted and officials cautioned travelers to stay off roads wherever possible.

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