Air India on Sunday canceled all flights to and from New York and Newark in the US scheduled for Monday due to a severe winter storm and forecast of heavy snowfall, the airline said in a statement.
“A severe winter storm with heavy snow is expected in New York, New Jersey and adjacent areas of the East Coast of the United States on February 22 and 23, and is likely to have a significant impact on flight operations. In view of the safety, well-being and comfort of our passengers and crew, all Air India flights to and from New York and Newark on February 23 have been cancelled,” the statement read.
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She added: “Our specialized teams will provide you with all assistance if you book to travel with us on this date.”
Superbomb winter storm warning in New York
Across New York City and the Northeastern part of the country, 30 million people are facing blizzard warnings, as a powerful winter storm is expected to bring heavy, wet snow driven by strong winds starting Sunday. More than 1,000 flights have already been cancelled.
It is expected that travel of all kinds will become almost impossible, and the system may cause major power outages.
New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani warned residents that the snowstorm could be more dangerous than the storm that struck the city in late January. “I ask all New Yorkers to stay inside and stay off the roads for your safety,” he said at a press conference on Saturday. “These conditions are likely to be more dangerous than what we encountered last time.”
Meteorologists expected that the storm would intensify quickly on Sunday. For this reason, the US Weather Prediction Center described it as a “superbomb,” chief meteorologist Brian Hurley told Bloomberg News.
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Blizzard warnings issued in the United States
Cities and towns along the East Coast scrambled to prepare for heavy snowfall and strong winds after blizzard warnings were issued in areas from Maryland to Massachusetts.
Once the storm intensifies on Sunday, it could become much more severe than estimates made just a few days ago, the National Weather Service said.
She added that the thickness of snow could reach two feet, or about 30 to 61 centimeters, in many places, and issued blizzard warnings in New York City, Long Island, Boston, and coastal areas in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Flooding is also possible in parts of New York and New Jersey, she added.
With input from agencies
