A powerful winter storm struck the US Northeast on Saturday, bringing heavy snow and ice that disrupted post-holiday travel and prompted states of emergency in New York and New Jersey. Officials urged residents to stay off the roads as treacherous conditions affected both highways and local streets.
Snowfall and Road Conditions
By early Saturday, snow accumulation ranged from six to ten inches (15 to 25 centimeters) across areas stretching from Syracuse in central New York to Long Island in the southeast, as well as parts of Connecticut, according to Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center near Washington, DC. New York City received two to four inches of snow overnight, with Central Park reporting 4.3 inches, marking the city’s heaviest snowfall since 2022.
“The good news is that the heaviest snow is done,” Oravec said, adding that only a few flurries remained and would taper off by the afternoon.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to exercise extreme caution. “The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm,” she said.
Air Travel Disruptions
The storm heavily affected air travel in the region. As of early Saturday evening, more than 9,000 domestic US flights had been cancelled or delayed, with major disruptions reported at New York-area airports, including John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International, according to FlightAware.
Airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways announced they would waive change fees, allowing passengers to rebook affected flights without additional charges.
Warnings and Travel Restrictions
Winter weather advisories and ice storm warnings extended into Pennsylvania and much of Massachusetts. New Jersey and Pennsylvania also implemented commercial vehicle restrictions on many interstate highways to prevent accidents.
“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel,” New Jersey’s acting governor Tahesha Way said. “We are urging travellers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to roads.”
Authorities stressed that hazardous road conditions posed significant risks and advised residents to postpone non-essential travel. Emergency crews worked overnight to clear snow and ice from major highways, but officials warned that delays and accidents were likely throughout the day.
Outlook
While the storm’s heaviest snowfall has passed, authorities reminded residents to remain cautious on icy roads and prepare for lingering flurries. Travel disruptions may continue into Sunday as crews clear streets and airports recover from the backlog of cancelled flights.
