A severe winter storm swept across the US north-east on Saturday, 27 December 2025, creating treacherous conditions and causing widespread travel chaos. The mix of snow and ice led to the cancellation and delay of nearly 15,000 flights, as officials in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency.
Transport Networks Brought to a Standstill
According to flight tracking data from FlightAware, the disruption to air travel was immense. More than 14,400 domestic US flights were canceled or delayed by mid-morning on Saturday. The impact was concentrated around the major New York-area airports: John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International. In addition, a further 2,100 international flights to or from the United States were scrapped.
Road travel was equally hazardous. Authorities across the region urged residents to stay off the roads. Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania imposed commercial vehicle restrictions on numerous routes, including several key interstate highways, to allow emergency crews to work.
Official Warnings and Snowfall Totals
New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasised public safety in a statement, saying, "The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm." Her counterpart in New Jersey, Acting Governor Tahesha Way, warned that the storm would create dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel, advising people to avoid journeys.
Meteorologist Bob Oravec from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center provided details on the snowfall. An area stretching from Syracuse in central New York to Long Island, and into Connecticut, saw between 6 to 10 inches (15-25cm) of accumulation. New York City itself received 2 to 4 inches, with Central Park recording 4.3 inches—the most significant snowfall there since 2022.
Storm Eases but Warnings Remain
While the heaviest snow had subsided by mid-morning, leaving only flurries, the aftermath continued to cause major disruption. Ice storm warnings and winter weather advisories were also active across large parts of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts at the storm's peak.
The storm serves as a stark reminder of the power of winter weather to bring busy transport hubs to a complete halt, particularly during the busy holiday travel period. The clean-up operations continued throughout the day as authorities worked to restore normalcy.
