Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Dec 27: Airlines cancelled more than 1,000 flights across the United States on Friday during the peak Christmas travel period as severe winter storm warnings and heavy snowfall disrupted travel in parts of the Midwest and northeast.

New York, the country’s largest city, was forecast to receive up to 10 inches of snow overnight, with temperatures expected to fall below freezing and cold conditions likely to persist through the weekend.

According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, at least 1,191 flights were cancelled and 3,974 delayed as of 1.00 pm US Eastern time. The National Weather Service said snowfall would continue across the upper Great Lakes region before the storm system shifted towards the northeast.

Warning that travel conditions could worsen, the NWS said road conditions would be treacherous for people returning from the holiday. New York Mayor Eric Adams said a winter storm warning was in effect and city crews had been deployed to clear roads.

Airports in New York and Chicago featured prominently on FlightAware’s “Misery Map”, which tracks flight disruptions. New York-area airports alone accounted for 785 flight cancellations, the website said.