A powerful nor’easter barreling toward the Northeast has prompted five major airlines to warn passengers that widespread travel disruptions are likely.
Millions of people from North Carolina to Maine could face delays, cancellations and difficult travel as dangerous winds and coastal weather move across the region.
American Airlines issued a severe-weather travel alert covering 16 airports in the Northeast. Eligible passengers flying to, from or through those locations can change their reservations without paying a rebooking fee.
The affected airports include New York’s JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, along with other locations in Maryland and Virginia.
JetBlue announced a fee waiver for flights scheduled from Friday through Sunday. The policy applies to journeys involving 11 airports across Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Delta warned that weather conditions could disrupt travel throughout the northeastern United States, singling out Boston for potentially “severe” conditions.
United Airlines issued an advisory for 10 airports serving Nantucket, Hartford, Boston, Newark, New York, Manchester, Philadelphia, Providence and Portland.
Southwest was the fifth carrier to post a travel advisory, covering seven airports as the storm continued to intensify.
American Airlines was one of five major carriers to issue travel warnings as a powerful nor’easter swept across the Northeast
LaGuardia Airport in Queens recorded 661 delays and 33 cancellations on Friday amid the storm-related travel disruption
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 had already begun. LaGuardia reported 661 delays and 33 cancellations on Friday, according to FlightAware.
JFK recorded 411 delays and nine cancellations, while Newark reported 191 delays and four cancellations.
The Federal Aviation Administration said LaGuardia and JFK were placed under ground delays at around 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 dangerous coastal flooding, damaging winds and possible power outages could affect the state throughout the weekend.
The greatest flooding threat was forecast for Long Island’s south shore and sections of the lower New York Harbor.
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Coastal communities in the Bronx, Westchester and northern Nassau County along Long Island Sound were also expected to face the storm’s harsh conditions.
The Outer Banks in North Carolina have already been battered 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.
