Severe Winter Storm Paralyzes Newark Airport, Triggers Mass Flight Shutdown Across U.S.
This winter storm brought heavy snow and ice to New Jersey on Sunday, delaying air travel at Newark Liberty International Airport and grounding thousands of flights nationwide. Airlines and states had to take emergency steps to preserve public safety during the storm, which made air and road travel perilous.
Flight operations at Newark Airport were disrupted hard early on. At least 894 arriving and outgoing planes were canceled by 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Airlines also canceled 235 flights on Monday due to weather concerns. The number of cancellations made Newark one of the nation’s most affected airports.
United Airlines, which has a significant hub in Newark, canceled the most. Sunday saw 451 United flights grounded due to snow and ice. Reduced visibility, ice runways, and strong winds caused significant delays and cancellations for airport officials and airline workers.
The disturbance went beyond New Jersey. As the winter storm system hit, over 9,700 flights were canceled nationwide on Sunday. Charlotte Douglas International Airport had the most cancellations, followed by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Newark, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport were among the top five airports for canceled flights, demonstrating the storm’s widespread impact on the Northeast travel corridor.
New Jersey state officials acted quickly as things worsened. Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a statewide emergency for all 21 counties before the storm, advising residents to stay home and avoid travel. The announcement helped state and municipal authorities mobilize resources as snowfall and ice increased.
Major highways have commercial vehicle travel prohibitions and lower speed limits for emergency and cleanup work. These actions kept roadways clean for snowplows and emergency responders restoring safety. NJ Transit halted bus and light rail service early Sunday. As weather worsened, trains were expected to stop after 2 p.m.
Weather officials predicted a prolonged storm effect. Through 1 p.m. Monday, all New Jersey counties had winter storm warnings for snow and ice. Authorities warned that things could change suddenly and advised the people to be vigilant.
Extreme winter weather can damage important transportation hubs, as the storm showed. Airport closures, grounded aircraft, and stopped transit services disrupted travelers, with ripple effects predicted into the week.
Sources:
State of New Jersey – Office of the Governor
New Jersey Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
National Weather Service
