NEWARK, NJ — Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall sweeping across the Northeast caused significant disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded as flights were delayed or canceled.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), thunderstorms forced ground delays and temporary traffic management measures throughout the day. At the height of the storm, arriving flights faced delays of up to 90 minutes, while departing flights were delayed by more than three hours on average.
The disruption was not limited to Newark. JFK and LaGuardia experienced widespread delays and cancellations as the storm system moved across New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. According to flight-tracking data, nearly 800 flights were canceled across the three airports as airlines scrambled to adjust schedules amid hazardous weather.
Airport officials urged passengers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport, warning that schedules could continue to change as weather conditions evolved.
The weather-related disruption comes as Newark Airport is already operating under reduced capacity because of ongoing runway rehabilitation and air traffic management constraints, making the airport more vulnerable to delays during severe weather events.
Passengers traveling through Newark in the coming days are encouraged to monitor airline notifications and the airport’s official flight information page for the latest updates.
Sources: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Newark Liberty International Airport, FlightAware.