Hundreds of flights into New York cancelled as city braces for snowstorm
Children sledding in Central Park as hundreds of flights into New York have been cancelled and the state braces for 10 inches of snow - Getty
Millions of people have been told to rearrange their travel plans on one of the busiest weekends of the year, with much of the state placed under winter storm warnings.
More than 60 million people across the north-east of the US have received winter weather alerts with New York expected to experience its heaviest snowfall in four years.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at New York’s major airports as a significant winter storm descends on the city and neighbouring regions - Michael Nagle
So far, more than 750 flights into or out of the city on Friday have been cancelled and hundreds more delayed, including more than a dozen to or from London, while hundreds more were delayed, according to data from FlightAware.
Travel to or from John F Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport has been the worst affected, with 329 and 224 flights cancelled, respectively.
LaGuardia international airport follows closely behind with 204 cancellations either flying into or out of New York.
Passengers wait at LaGuardia Airport amid flight cancellations after Christmas
Kathy Hochul, the New York Governor, warned passengers flying on Boxing Day that they “may wish to rearrange travel plans”.
“If you must be on the road, leave yourself extra time between destinations and ensure your vehicle is packed with safety essentials,” she said.
Eric Adams, the outgoing mayor, also issued a storm warning advising New Yorkers to leave work early and stay off the roads if possible.
The storm first hit Wisconsin and Michigan in the Midwest on Friday morning before moving east towards Pennsylvania and New York.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has announced a storm watch in New York starting at 4pm (9pm GMT) on Friday until 1pm (6pm GMT) on Saturday.
The first snowfall in Brooklyn in New York earlier this month - Shutterstock
The storm is set to intensify throughout the evening, with up to two inches of snow expected to fall per hour and temperatures plunging below zero overnight, the forecaster said.
The last time New York saw more than four inches of snow was in 2022, when eight inches fell in Central Park. The record was set in 2016, when 27.5 inches of snow blanketed the city.
Ms Hochul said the state was set to deploy more than 1,600 large snow ploughs to help tackle the icy deluge.
New York City buried under 27.5 inches of snow during the record 2016 winter storm - AFP
Over 100 salt spreaders were also working throughout the city on Friday as the NWS warned of “hazardous travel from snow-covered roads”.
“If you must drive or travel in the storm, remember to share your travel plans with your friends…and make sure you have an emergency kit,” the forecaster said.
A departures board at LaGuardia Airport shows multiple cancellations on December 26 - Michael Nagle
The storm was expected to cause widespread disruption, with around 15 million travellers expected to pass through New York and New Jersey’s tunnels and airports this week, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Forecasters said a secondary storm on Sunday night may wash away the snow and sleet that is expected to fall over the next 24 hours.
Weather warnings have been issued in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, while Massachusetts and Rhode Island are also expected to be hit with heavy snow.
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