A severe winter storm has significantly impacted post-Christmas travel across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, causing travel disruptions and power outages. The storm brought heavy snowfall and hazardous ice from Friday evening into Saturday morning.
Travel Disruptions Due to Winter Storm
By Saturday morning, more than 1,850 flights in the United States were delayed, with around 600 cancellations reported, according to FlightAware. The New York metropolitan area experienced the most significant disruptions among major airports:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport: Flights were delayed by an average of two hours.
- LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International: Ground delays extended into midday Saturday.
- Boston Logan International Airport: Also reported numerous disruptions.
The storm had already caused over 8,500 flight delays and 1,700 cancellations on Friday alone.
Snowfall Accumulation and Effects
Snowfall continued across the New York City metro and northeastern New Jersey, although the intensity began to taper off in other areas. The National Weather Service reported diverse snowfall levels:
- New York City’s Central Park recorded just over four inches.
- Connecticut experienced the highest accumulation with just over eight inches.
- Hartwick, New York, reported more than 11 inches of snow.
This marks the first snowstorm in New York City to drop four inches or more since January 2022, when an eight-inch storm struck the area.
Power Outages in Affected Areas
As the storm created hazardous conditions, over 30,000 homes and businesses in Michigan lost power due to heavy ice weighing down trees and power lines, according to poweroutage.us.
City officials in New York prepared for this snowstorm by salting streets and getting snowplows ready. Despite forecasts warning of the potential for significant snowfall, the overall accumulation was lower than anticipated in some locations.
