• Winter storm Devin has led to over 1,800 flight cancellations across the U.S.
• New York airports account for more than half of the cancellations during peak travel.
• California is facing historic rainfall and potential flash flooding from the storm.

Winter storm Devin has severely impacted air travel in the United States, leading to over 1,800 flight cancellations and more than 22,000 delayed flights as of Friday afternoon, according to flight-monitoring website FlightAware. The storm brought heavy snow to the Northeast and Midwest while Southern California faced catastrophic flooding, resulting in at least three fatalities related to the weather conditions. Airports in New York, including John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia, have suffered the most, with more than half of all cancellations occurring there, according to SCMP and India Times.

Around 40 million Americans are currently under winter storm warnings or advisories, with projections of snowfall hitting up to 10 inches in New York City, marking one of the heaviest snowfalls in four years. JetBlue Airways has been hit the hardest, cancelling 350 flights in the affected regions, while Delta and Republic Airways followed closely behind with significant cancellations as well. “Due to winter storm Devin, JetBlue has cancelled approximately 350 flights today and tomorrow, primarily in the Northeast,” a JetBlue spokesperson stated, which aligns with similar reports from India Times and Al Jazeera.

The National Weather Service has warned that travel conditions will remain hazardous from the Great Lakes to the northern Mid-Atlantic through the weekend. New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm to ensure that necessary resources are available to handle the conditions. As the East Coast faces serious snowfall, California's challenges include an “atmospheric river” causing extensive flooding, reaching levels that have not been seen in over five decades, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

As travel continues to be disrupted, officials in both New York and California are urging residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. Reports indicate that emergency services have been stretched thin, particularly in California, where rugged weather conditions have prompted more than 100 rescues from vehicles stranded in floodwaters. “We are urging travellers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to the roads,” New Jersey’s Acting Governor Tahesha Way commented, echoing sentiments shared by local officials across affected areas as highlighted by India Times and Al Jazeera.