Severe Weather Disrupts Travel Across the East Coast
Amtrak Service Suspension
Amtrak temporarily suspended service along the popular Northeast Corridor. Furthermore, over 1,000 flights were delayed across the United States on Monday due to severe flash flooding impacting the East Coast.
The suspension of service between New York City and Albany was extended through at least Monday. This decision was made because of flooding on Metro-North Railroad tracks used by the rail line. Amtrak stated, “We regret any inconvenience caused by the suspension,” which first took effect Sunday.
Flight Delays Nationwide
Amtrak advised travelers to follow @AmtrakAlerts on Twitter for real-time service updates. Additionally, the company waived fees for changing reservations.
More than 1,200 flights had been delayed, and over 460 were canceled as of Monday morning within, into, or out of the U.S., according to flight tracker FlightAware. Notably, the most significant disturbances were concentrated around Boston and the New York City area.
These flight interruptions followed more than 8,000 delays on Sunday and over 2,000 cancellations. Southwest Airlines experienced the highest number of delayed flights, accounting for just over 1,400, closely followed by American Airlines with more than 1,150 delays.
Emergency Declarations
The travel challenges stemmed from extreme weather conditions impacting parts of New York and neighboring Vermont on Sunday. In response, New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency for Orange County, later extending it to include Ontario County, located southeast of Rochester.
Governor Hochul communicated, “We are in close communication with local officials, and state agencies are participating in search and rescue efforts.” She warned, “If your area is under a ‘flash flood warning,’ your cell phone will buzz with an emergency alert from @NWS. If you live in a home that floods, prepare to move to higher ground and have supplies ready.”
On Monday, a flash flood “emergency” was declared for parts of central Vermont through the afternoon, as noted by the National Weather Service in Burlington via Twitter.
The NWS stated, “Continuing rounds of heavy rain are expected to produce widespread flash flooding today and tonight.” They added, “We have already received reports of washed-out roads, with more to come. This is a potentially life-threatening situation. Please remain alert today!”
