Blizzard updates: 9,000 flights have been canceled and NYC is under a travel ban as storm pummels Northeast
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
- A significant winter storm is pummeling much of the Northeast.
- Airlines are delaying and canceling thousands of flights as a result.
- Over 360,000 customers were without power on Monday morning.
Nearly 9,000 flights have been canceled since Sunday, and thousands are without power as a winter storm ravages the Northeast.
The National Weather Service said to expect blizzard conditions and up to 20 inches of snow in New York City over a 24-hour period, between Sunday and Monday evening. Parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts could get up to 25 inches.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and a travel ban during a press conference on Sunday.
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut have also declared states of emergency, putting in place commercial vehicle bans and travel restrictions.
US airlines are canceling and delaying thousands of flights. As of Monday morning, airlines had canceled nearly 9,000 flights and delayed over 8,000 since Sunday, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.
More than 360,000 customers were without electricity as of 6 a.m. ET on Monday, according to PowerOutage.com. Over 115,000 of which are based in New Jersey.
On Monday morning, New York City's John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports had the highest number of cancellations, followed by Boston Logan International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.
Anyone hoping to catch a flight in the region on Monday can expect major disruptions, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. At LaGuardia Airport, for example, 98% of flights scheduled for Monday have been canceled.
Adding to what will likely be a chaotic 48 hours for travelers, the Department of Homeland Security announced Saturday night that it was suspending TSA PreCheck and Global Entry due to the partial government shutdown.
Despite the announcement, however, TSA Precheck and Global Entry lanes remained open at major airports on Sunday. In a statement, the Transportation Security Administration said it is evaluating the situation "case-by-case."
"At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public," a spokesperson said. "As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly."
The federal government entered a partial shutdown earlier this month, delaying funding for some agencies, like DHS. TSA agents are essential workers, so they're still working — for now. During the full government shutdown earlier this year, TSA agents and air traffic controllers went 43 days without a paycheck.
Rail disruptions, school closures
All rail and bus services will be suspended until conditions improve, NJ Transit said on Monday.
Several school districts, including those in New York City and Boston, announced that schools will be closed on Monday.
Outside New York City, states like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts have declared disaster emergencies.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said the declaration "will allow Philadelphia to more effectively fight this large and dangerous storm as it rolls in."
Her office said the move frees up additional resources to respond to the storm's impact, with about 1,000 personnel and more than 800 pieces of equipment — including snowplows, salt spreaders, and excavators — set to be deployed across the city.
The governors of New York and Massachusetts have also activated National Guard troops to assist residents and support emergency response efforts as blizzard conditions worsen.