Storms Halt New York Airports Ahead of Thanksgiving Travel

Thunderstorms and low cloud cover have disrupted air travel across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Friday, November 6, causing delays at all three major New York City-area airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration implemented air traffic management programs to control the volume of arriving and departing flights. These measures forced many aircraft to remain at departure gates or wait on taxiways until controllers confirmed it was safe to proceed.

LaGuardia Airport experienced ground delays, with some departing aircraft facing extended waits before takeoff. John F. Kennedy International Airport faced weather-related restrictions, including a temporary ground stop. Newark Liberty International Airport also reported delays linked to thunderstorms and air traffic management measures.

The disruptions occur ahead of the weekend, when thousands of passengers are expected to travel through the region. The weather pattern threatens to impede air travel before the Thanksgiving holiday, when millions of people typically take to the roads and skies.

According to FlightAware.com, more than 800 flights into and around the United States were canceled on Wednesday, while more than 1,000 were delayed. Delay times vary throughout the day as weather conditions and airport operations change.