NEW YORK, Oct 13: Air travel across the United States was severely disrupted Monday as a powerful nor’easter battered the East Coast, grounding flights at major airports and causing delays that stretched for hours.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported significant hold-ups at airports including LaGuardia (LGA), Boston Logan (BOS), Newark Liberty (EWR), and John F. Kennedy (JFK), with delays extending across multiple US and Canadian airports due to high winds, low cloud cover, and heavy rain.

Departures to LaGuardia Airport experienced average delays of more than two hours, with some flights grounded for nearly four hours. The FAA warned delays could continue throughout the day, with up to a 60 percent chance of extension.

At Boston Logan, a ground stop was issued until at least 11:00 a.m. ET due to strong winds, runway construction, and low visibility. Average delays reached three hours and 42 minutes, with some extending up to six hours and 33 minutes.

The nor’easter, which made landfall over the weekend, continued to dump heavy rain and bring wind gusts of up to 55 mph across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions. Coastal flooding was reported in parts of New Jersey and New York, prompting emergency declarations in both states.

New Jersey's state of emergency went into effect Saturday night, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in eight southern counties late Sunday. The Columbus Day Parade in New York City was cancelled as a precaution.

The FAA confirmed that 975 flights were delayed across the country as of midday Monday, with an average delay of 41 minutes and some exceeding 89 minutes. Flights from Washington, Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City were also impacted.

Newark Liberty Airport began reporting delays around 9:40 a.m. ET, citing extensive cloud coverage. JFK issued a traffic management program just before 10:30 a.m., resulting in average delays of around 15 minutes.

LaGuardia reported more than 1,300 flight delays, including a temporary ground stop from 9:51 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET. The FAA’s broader delay program, issued at 8:30 a.m. ET, is expected to remain in effect until 12:59 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Boston Logan’s delays were compounded by ongoing runway and taxiway construction, with gusty winds further complicating operations. A Massachusetts Port Authority spokesperson confirmed weather as the main cause of disruptions but said there were no new issues related to staffing or increased absenteeism at Logan Airport.

Elsewhere, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) experienced delays of approximately 50 minutes on average due to low cloud ceilings. Departures from major hubs like Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., were also affected.

Airlines advised travelers to monitor their flight status closely and expect schedule changes throughout the day.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the storm would continue to pose threats into Tuesday, including strong onshore winds, beach erosion, dangerous surf, and rip currents. Coastal flooding was expected to peak on Monday afternoon before gradually subsiding.