TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A winter storm in the United States has forced thousands of flights to be canceled or delayed, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware as cited by Al Jazeera. The disruptions have dealt a significant blow to air travel during the peak holiday season.
A total of 1,581 flights within, to, or from the United States were canceled, while 6,883 flights were delayed as of 04:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, FlightAware reported.
The disruptions came as the U.S. National Weather Service warned of Winter Storm Devin, which has created hazardous travel conditions and is expected to bring heavy snowfall to parts of the Midwest and the Northeast.
More than 40 million Americans were under winter storm warnings or weather advisories on Friday. An additional 30 million people were under flood or storm warnings in California, where a phenomenon known as an atmospheric river has brought exceptionally heavy rainfall.
New York City, the largest city in the United States, was preparing for up to 250 millimeters or 10 inches of snow overnight on Friday, the highest snowfall forecast in the past four years. Temperatures are expected to continue dropping through the weekend as an Arctic air mass moves south from Canada.
John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport warned travelers of possible flight delays or cancellations. FlightAware data showed that more than half of all flight cancellations and delays occurred at these three airports.
JetBlue Airways canceled 225 flights on Friday, the highest number among U.S. airlines, followed by Delta Air Lines with 212 cancellations. Republic Airways canceled 157 flights, while American Airlines and United Airlines canceled 146 and 97 flights, respectively.
“Due to winter storm Devin, JetBlue has cancelled approximately 350 flights today and tomorrow, primarily in the Northeast where JetBlue has a large operation,” a JetBlue spokesperson said.
On the U.S. West Coast, a powerful winter storm brought Southern California its wettest Christmas season in 54 years.
Although rainfall around Los Angeles had begun to ease, the National Weather Service warned that the risk of flash flooding and landslides remained on Friday.
Firefighters rescued more than 100 people on Thursday in Los Angeles County, with one helicopter evacuating 21 people from stranded vehicles, officials said.
Read: A Lesson in Climate Science Behind the Devastation Across Sumatra
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