New York, United States: A powerful Nor’easter blizzard that swept across the U.S. Northeast over the weekend has left thousands of travelers stranded and major airports nearly paralyzed. As of Monday morning, more than 6,400 flights have been cancelled across the region, with major hubs including JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Boston Logan International Airport reporting near-total shutdowns.
The storm, driven by heavy snowfall, high winds, and white-out conditions, prompted emergency declarations, citywide travel bans, and school closures from New York City through New England and New Jersey. Meteorologists reported snow accumulations of up to 2 feet (60 cm) and wind gusts reaching 70 mph, creating hazardous conditions for road and air travel.
According to flight-tracking data:
- Boston Logan International Airport saw 389 flight cancellations and 125 delays, affecting carriers including JetBlue (122 cancellations), Republic Airways (113), Delta (38), American (34), Southwest (21), and United (18).
- LaGuardia Airport cancelled approximately 98% of scheduled flights, while JFK reported 87% of departures and 85% of arrivals cancelled, and Newark Liberty International Airport experienced 83% of departures grounded.
- Air India cancelled all flights between New York and Newark for Monday and extended cancellations through Tuesday, Feb. 24. Other major carriers such as Delta, American, JetBlue, United, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, and Spirit also suspended numerous flights to safeguard passengers and crews.
Airline and airport authorities urged travelers to check the latest flight updates and refrain from non-essential travel. Rebooking and refund requests are being processed by customer service teams as operations slowly resume.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and imposed a citywide travel ban restricting non-essential travel. Blizzard warnings extended across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and coastal New England, affecting more than 35 million residents. Regional transit systems, including NJ Transit and Boston-area rail networks, suspended services during peak storm hours.
Authorities activated the National Guard in several states to assist with snow clearance and emergency response. Local officials warned of continued dangerous driving conditions, power outages, and potential coastal flooding as the storm moves eastward.
