Severe winter storms have caused significant disruptions to holiday travel plans nationwide, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations and delays on Friday, December 26.
Airlines and airports in the Northeast and Midwest are advising customers to prepare for considerable disruptions, as perilous weather conditions have impacted operations at major hubs, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
As of 4:04 PM ET, a total of 1,802 flights had been cancelled, and 22,349 were delayed, according to data from flight tracking site FlightAware. JetBlue Airways led the cancellations with 225 flights, followed closely by Delta Air Lines with 186.
The National Weather Service has issued alerts for Winter Storm Devin, forecasting dangerous travel conditions for the Great Lakes, northern Mid-Atlantic, and southern New England on Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning has been issued for areas from New York City to northeast New Jersey, including the Lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Connecticut. The agency indicated that certain locations could see snowfall totals of up to 10 inches in the most affected areas.
About half of the cancellations were linked to flights arriving or departing from New York City’s three main airports: LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark. Airports in Detroit and Boston also faced cancellations and delays.
Airports have taken to social media to inform travelers about potential disruptions.
New York City has issued a travel advisory throughout the storm, citing low temperatures and dangerous road conditions. The weather service indicated that road conditions would be hazardous for those returning from holiday activities.
Other regions of the country are also encountering weather-related travel issues. Until Saturday, freezing rain, sleet, and snow are expected to create hazardous travel conditions from the Great Lakes through New England and the mid-Atlantic.
While winter weather often leads to increased electricity demand, power grids have not shown signs of strain thus far. However, colder temperatures are contributing to rising natural gas prices in the U.S., which is utilized for home heating. Futures prices climbed by up to 3.3% on Friday.
(Edited by : Shweta Mungre)
