SAEDNEWS: Airlines cancelled 1,500 US flights during the peak holiday travel period on Friday as severe winter storm warnings and heavy snow were forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.
More than 40 million Americans were under winter storm warnings or weather advisories one day after Christmas, AFP reported.
Another 30 million were under flood or storm advisories in California, where an “atmospheric river” has brought heavy rainfall.
New York, the nation’s largest city, was preparing for up to 10 inches of snow overnight, which would be its heaviest snowfall in four years.
Temperatures were expected to drop and remain cold into the weekend as an Arctic blast moves south from Canada.
As of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, at least 1,490 flights had been canceled and more than 5,900 delayed, according to FlightAware.
The National Weather Service predicted snowfall across the upper Great Lakes would shift toward the U.S. Northeast.
“Difficult travel conditions are ongoing for the area, and those traveling after the holiday should exercise caution if on the road,” the agency warned.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said a winter storm warning was in effect and city crews were deployed to plow roads.
Airports in New York and Chicago ranked near the top on FlightAware’s “Misery Map,” which tracks flight delays and cancellations. New York’s three area airports accounted for 850 canceled flights.
Weather alerts were also issued for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and parts of Michigan, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Meanwhile, California endured heavy rain this week, but the National Weather Service forecast drier conditions over the weekend.
The severe weather and flooding forced the Santa Barbara Airport northwest of Los Angeles to close. By Friday morning, after crews spent the night clearing runways, authorities announced it had reopened.
