A winter storm bundled with ice and snow is set to sweep through the Great Lakes region and the Northeastern United States on Friday (December 26), with the expectation that it will persist through Saturday. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, more than 6,000 inbound and outbound flights to the United States have already been cancelled or delayed on Friday.
Currently in the peak of holiday travel season, the Airlines for America predicts that between December 19 and January 5, airlines will transport a record-breaking 52.6 million passengers, with Friday and Sunday of this week expected to be the busiest days in terms of passenger volume.
Ice, sleet, and freezing rain will lead to slippery road conditions, with significant snow accumulation expected in parts of New York – New York City may see snowfall reaching levels not seen in many years.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning on Friday, stating that from Friday to Saturday morning, travel conditions will become hazardous in the Great Lakes region, the northern Mid-Atlantic, and southern New England.
Airlines typically preemptively cancel flights in the face of major weather events like blizzards or hurricanes to avoid aircraft, connecting passengers, and crew getting stranded at airports, exacerbating flight disruptions.
According to FlightAware, as of 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, a total of 1,388 inbound and outbound flights to the United States have been cancelled, with 4,685 flights delayed.
The National Weather Service announced winter storm warnings for New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island starting Friday afternoon, with total snow accumulation expected to reach up to 9 inches (about 23 centimeters).
Airports in potentially affected areas such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and LaGuardia Airport have issued notices on their websites, warning passengers of possible flight delays or cancellations.
FlightAware data shows that as of 2 p.m. on Friday, more than 360 flights in and out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport have been cancelled, accounting for over a quarter of the day’s total flights. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has also seen over 200 flights cancelled, while Philadelphia International Airport has had over 100 flights cancelled.
Airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue have offered passengers free rebooking options.