Snowpocalypse Hits US: 1,600 Flights Cancelled, New York Braces for Record Snowfall

A powerful post-Christmas storm is wreaking havoc across the United States, with over 1,600 flights cancelled as of Friday afternoon. The severe weather, fueled by La Niña, is expected to bring record snowfall to New York, with the National Weather Service predicting 6-9 inches of snow in the area. The travel chaos comes during one of the busiest holiday seasons, with a record number of Americans projected to venture out of their homes. However, the inclement weather has dampened travel plans, with JetBlue Airways Corp facing the most cancellations, followed by Delta Air Lines Inc. Multiple states have declared emergencies, including New Jersey and New York, while road closures and power outages have been reported in California. The Great Lakes region is also bracing for accumulating ice. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged residents to monitor local forecasts and avoid unnecessary travel. 'If you have to travel, plan ahead, take it slow, and leave plenty of time to get to where you need to go safely,' she said. La Niña, a weather pattern marked by cooling Pacific waters, is behind the extreme weather. 'La Niña winters are notorious for their volatility, and we are certainly getting a healthy serving of that this holiday season,' said Matt Rogers, president of the Commodity Weather Group. The storm has also prompted warnings from officials, with Pennsylvania residents advised to prepare for power outages and California residents facing road closures due to flooding and storm damage.