Kathmandu | Winter Storm Devin has unleashed a wave of travel chaos across the Northeast United States, leading to the cancellation or delay of more than 14,000 domestic flights during the peak post-Christmas travel weekend. The storm, which intensified between December 26 and 27, buried parts of New York and New Jersey under heavy snow and ice, forcing Governors Kathy Hochul and acting Governor Tahesha Way to declare states of emergency for over two dozen counties. According to data from FlightAware, major hubs including John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia airports bore the brunt of the disruptions, accounting for more than half of all national cancellations. JetBlue reported the highest number of grounded flights, followed closely by Delta, American, and United Airlines, all of whom have begun waiving change fees to help stranded passengers rebook their journeys without penalty.
In New York City, the snowfall marked a historic event, with Central Park recording over 4.3 inches—the highest single-day accumulation since 2022—while parts of Long Island and Connecticut saw totals reaching up to 11 inches. The National Weather Service issued severe winter storm warnings, citing “dangerous road conditions” and “near-zero visibility” caused by snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour. Governor Hochul prioritized public safety, urging residents to stay off the roads and banning commercial vehicles from several major highways to allow emergency crews to clear the drifts. Although the storm began to ebb by Saturday morning, the backlog of travelers and ongoing recovery efforts mean that air and road travel are expected to face significant hurdles through the remainder of the 2025 holiday season.
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