A major winter storm has plunged New York and the wider northeastern United States into a state of emergency, causing severe disruption to one of the year's busiest travel weekends. The severe weather has led to the cancellation or delay of thousands of flights, stranding holiday travellers.
States of Emergency Declared Amid Heavy Snowfall
Officials in both New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency in response to the powerful storm system. Forecasters had initially predicted up to 11 inches of snow for parts of the region by Saturday afternoon. While New York City ultimately received 4.3 inches of snow – its heaviest snowfall since 2022 – the impact was widespread and severe.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stating on Friday: "I encourage everyone to monitor local forecasts and avoid unnecessary travel. If you have to travel, plan ahead, take it slow, and leave plenty of time." Her counterpart in New Jersey, Governor Tahesha Way, formally declared the emergency due to the "severe snowstorm, with the potential of icy and slippery conditions."
New York City Mayor Eric Adams assured residents that preparations were in place, posting on social media: "That white stuff is coming, NYC! We're ready for however much we get." The city's sanitation department had 700 million pounds of salt prepared to treat roads.
Massive Travel Chaos Across US Airports
The storm's most immediate and visible impact has been on air travel during the critical festive period. According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, at least 9,000 flights have been cancelled or delayed since Friday night. Major hubs serving the New York metropolitan area, including John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, and LaGuardia Airports, all issued snow warnings, cautioning passengers about ongoing disruptions.
The travel chaos was not confined to the northeast. Airports in Florida, including Orlando, reported hundreds of delayed flights, while San Francisco also experienced significant hold-ups. The ripple effect of the storm has been felt across the national aviation network.
Wider Impacts and Hazardous Conditions
Beyond the airports, the storm created dangerous conditions elsewhere. In California's Sierra Nevada, heavy snowfall led to treacherous mountain travel and tragic incidents. At the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, two ski patrollers were injured in an avalanche on Friday morning and required hospital treatment. The resort has seen over five feet of snow since Tuesday. Separately, near the Mount Rose ski resort in Nevada, a backcountry skier had to be rescued after being buried in an avalanche on Thursday.
Back in New York, while children enjoyed the rare snowfall, the message from authorities remained one of caution. The National Weather Service had warned of potential accumulations of six to eleven inches from upstate New York to Long Island, with some areas possibly seeing a foot of snow. The declaration of a state of emergency allows for the mobilisation of additional resources and helps coordinate response efforts across agencies.
