A powerful nor’easter bearing down on the Northeast has prompted five major airlines to warn passengers about widespread travel problems.
From North Carolina to Maine, millions of people could face flight delays, cancellations and difficult travel as the storm brings dangerous weather to the East Coast.
American Airlines activated a severe-weather travel waiver for the Northeast, allowing eligible customers to change their itineraries without paying additional fees. The policy applied to passengers traveling to, from or through 16 airports in the region.
The airports covered included New York’s JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, along with locations in Maryland and Virginia.
JetBlue likewise waived change fees for flights scheduled from Friday through Sunday. The airline’s policy included 11 airports serving Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Delta cautioned that weather conditions could disrupt travel across the northeastern United States, highlighting particularly severe conditions in Boston.
United Airlines issued its own advisory for 10 airports, including those serving Nantucket, Hartford, Boston, Newark, New York, Manchester, Philadelphia, Providence and Portland.
Southwest also posted a travel alert covering seven airports as the powerful storm moved into the region.
American Airlines was one of five major carriers to issue travel warnings as a fierce nor’easter swept across the Northeast
LaGuardia Airport in Queens recorded 661 delays and 33 cancellations on Friday as the storm disrupted air travel
The major storm is expected to affect millions of people along the East Coast, stretching from North Carolina to Maine
The National Weather Service said strong winds in New York could continue for as long as 36 hours, with the most intense gusts forecast from late Friday into early Saturday night.
Flight disruptions were already mounting. LaGuardia reported 661 delays and 33 cancellations on Friday, according to FlightAware.
JFK recorded 411 delays and nine cancellations, while Newark had 191 delays and four cancellations.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that LaGuardia and JFK were placed under ground delays at about 2 p.m. local time because of strong winds.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said officials were “preparing for the worst” and urged residents to “take this storm seriously.”
Hochul warned that the storm could bring dangerous coastal flooding, damaging winds and possible power outages throughout the weekend.
The greatest flood threat was expected along Long Island’s south shore and in sections of lower New York Harbor.
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Storm conditions could also affect coastal communities in the Bronx, Westchester County and northern Nassau County along the Long Island Sound.
The Outer Banks of North Carolina have already been hit by the nor’easter, which is expected to continue through the weekend
Authorities across Massachusetts and other parts of the Northeast were concerned about power outages and downed tree branches
Boston Logan International Airport was also hit with 219 delays and 78 cancelations on Friday.
The NWS in Boston said it was concerned about power outages and downed tree branches.
The rain in the area could last through Monday, likely forcing more travel disruptions until then.
Philadelphia International Airport was also affected with 131 delays and three cancelations, according to FlightAware.
Winds and rain are expected to batter the area during both weekend days. High tides are likeliest to form Saturday morning or night.
That could potentially cause flooding on roads situated in coastal and bayside areas.
Some roadways are expected to become impassable, according to the NWS in the Philadelphia area.
A nor’easter is named for the northeast winds that blow over the Mid-Atlantic and New England when a low-pressure system sits over the ocean
Travel delays were expected to continue during the weekend as the nor’easter ravaged through the Northeast and affected millions
The nor’easter could be life-threatening given its high velocity, powerful winds and the potential for flooding
Going up north in Connecticut, Bradley International Airport also saw 31 delays, albeit no cancelations.
Rain is expected to pour throughout the day, with winds up to 60 miles per hour in some areas.
In North Carolina, considerable damage has already been reported along the Outer Banks as a result of the nor’easter.
A nor’easter is a strong storm that forms along the US East Coast. It is named for the northeast winds that blow over the Mid-Atlantic and New England when a low-pressure system sits over the ocean.
This weekend’s storm is expected to keep moving up the east coast, with impacts as far as Maine projected as a result.