Hundreds of Flights Canceled at Three Major Airports... Airlines Waive Change Fees
"Cancel Your Travel Plans," Governor Warns as Temperatures Plunge and Roads Turn to Ice
2,200 Snowplows Deployed in All-Out Effort... Emergency Restoration Teams on S
During the year-end holiday season, New York and the Northeastern United States have been transformed into a vast snowy landscape, resulting in paralyzed transportation. The heavy snowfall, which began on the afternoon of the 26th (local time), is forecast to bring up to 28 centimeters of accumulation in New York City alone. This is expected to be a record amount in some areas, marking the heaviest snowfall in three years.
New York, USA, is experiencing traffic paralysis due to heavy snowfall for the first time in three years. Photo is unrelated to the article. Yonhap News.
The meteorological authorities predicted that heavy snow would fall at a rate of up to 5 centimeters per hour through the early morning of the 27th. In particular, as temperatures were expected to plummet below freezing overnight, roads were anticipated to turn icy, leaving citizens planning year-end travel stranded. An estimated 15 million people were expected to use airports and bridges around New York during this holiday season, but the sudden snowstorm has disrupted their plans.
Air travel has already been severely disrupted. At New York’s three major airports-John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark-hundreds of flights have been canceled or delayed. As of 4 p.m. on this day, 1,472 domestic and international flights across the United States had been canceled, and more than 5,500 flights were delayed, further intensifying the chaos. Major airlines such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have responded by waiving flight change fees, but the wave of cancellations is expected to continue through the 27th.
Ground transportation is also facing significant challenges. The New York State Department of Transportation repeatedly urged travelers to check real-time traffic information, and in parts of New Jersey, the passage of large trailers and motorcycles was completely restricted. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams strongly advised residents to revise their travel plans, urging them to refrain from driving and to use public transportation instead.
New York City has activated its emergency management plan and is making all-out efforts to respond. More than 700 brine spreaders and 2,200 snowplows have been deployed on-site, while the state government has sent an additional 1,600 snow removal vehicles to outlying areas. Emergency restoration teams have also been organized in preparation for possible power outages caused by the heavy snow.
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