A formidable winter storm, known as the ‘Clipper System,’ unleashed widespread travel chaos across the United States on Friday, resulting in over 1,800 flight cancellations and tens of thousands of delays. Millions of Americans attempting to conclude their holiday travels found themselves stranded as the storm blanketed key regions with snow and ice. FlightAware data confirmed more than 1,802 flights were canceled and over 22,340 faced delays by late Friday afternoon.
The National Weather Service alerted the public to hazardous weather conditions extending from the Great Lakes area into New England. Major airports, especially those in the New York City metropolitan region—JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark—experienced severe disruptions. Reduced visibility and the continuous need for runway snow removal contributed to nearly half of all flight cancellations nationwide.
Detroit also emerged as a critical bottleneck for air travel, with airlines anticipating that the ripple effects of the storm could extend through the weekend. Heavy snowfall, with accumulations possibly reaching 10 inches, was forecast for areas like the Lower Hudson Valley and Long Island. Furthermore, western Pennsylvania was placed under an ice storm warning, predicting treacherous conditions on roads and potential disruptions to power infrastructure.
New York City officials enacted a travel advisory, highlighting the dangers of extreme cold and the formation of icy roads. The NWS cautioned that road conditions would be ‘treacherous’ and advised against non-essential travel until Saturday morning. The significant temperature drop also influenced energy markets, prompting a 3.3% rise in US natural gas futures as heating demand increased. A powerful cold front is anticipated to bring a harsh cold snap to the Mid-Atlantic and D.C. regions, marking a frigid conclusion to the year.