A powerful winter storm swept across the US north-east on Saturday, 27 December 2025, causing widespread travel disruption and prompting officials in New York and New Jersey to declare states of emergency. The mix of snow and ice led to the cancellation or delay of nearly 15,000 flights, creating post-holiday chaos for thousands of travellers.
Travel Network Brought to a Standstill
The impact on air travel was severe and immediate. According to data from the flight tracking service FlightAware, more than 14,400 domestic US flights were canceled or delayed by mid-morning on Saturday. The disruption was concentrated around the major New York-area airports, including John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International.
The ripple effects were felt globally, with FlightAware reporting an additional 2,100 international flights to or from the US also canceled. Authorities in both states urgently advised residents to avoid non-essential travel due to treacherous road conditions, with commercial vehicle restrictions imposed on key routes, including several interstate highways.
Officials Urge Extreme Caution Amid Heavy Snowfall
New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasised public safety as the top priority. "The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm," she stated. In New Jersey, Acting Governor Tahesha Way warned that the storm would create dangerous driving conditions and severely impact holiday travel, urging people to stay off the roads to allow clearance crews to work.
Meteorologist Bob Oravec from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center provided details on the snowfall. He reported that an area from Syracuse in central New York to Long Island, as well as Connecticut, saw between 6 and 10 inches (15-25cm) of accumulation.
New York City itself received a significant covering, with 4.3 inches measured in Central Park – the largest snowfall recorded there since 2022. "The good news is that the heaviest snow is done," Oravec noted by mid-morning. "Only a few flurries remain this morning and those will taper off by the afternoon."
Regional Impact and Ongoing Advisories
The storm's effects extended beyond New York and New Jersey. Winter weather advisories and ice storm warnings remained in place for most of Pennsylvania and large parts of Massachusetts. The declarations of emergency enabled state and local agencies to mobilise resources more efficiently and implement necessary travel bans to protect public safety.
While the storm began to ease by late morning, the clean-up operation was just beginning. The extensive flight cancellations left airlines and airports facing a significant backlog, with disruptions likely to continue affecting schedules into the following days as operations slowly returned to normal.
