Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Dec 28: A powerful winter storm swept through the northeastern United States and the Great Lakes region from Friday night into Saturday, bringing heavy snowfall, widespread travel disruptions and power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents.

According to flight-tracking data, the storm caused major chaos in air travel. By 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, more than 5,500 flights operating within, into or out of the United States were delayed, while at least 860 flights were canceled. Airports in the New York metropolitan area were among the most severely impacted.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that flights arriving at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport faced average delays of nearly two hours on Saturday morning, as severe weather conditions hampered airport operations.

Winter storm warnings and advisories were issued across a wide stretch of the region, from New York down to Philadelphia, with authorities urging residents and travelers to remain cautious amid dangerous road and weather conditions.

The storm struck just ahead of what is expected to be the busiest travel day of the holiday season. Transportation Security Administration data projected that approximately 2.86 million passengers would take flights on Sunday, raising concerns over further delays.

In anticipation of the storm, the governors of New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency, advising people to stay informed about weather updates, road closures and safety guidelines.

Meanwhile, the impact extended beyond travel disruptions. In Michigan, ice accumulation on trees and power lines led to outages, leaving more than 30,000 homes and businesses without electricity on Saturday morning.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as cleanup efforts and restoration work remain underway across affected areas.