New Yorkers are heading out of the five boroughs ahead of a winter storm expected to bring snow and hazardous travel conditions to the city this weekend.
Some travelers at area airports said their trips were planned long before the forecast came into focus.
“We planned this like a month ago, so we didn’t know it was going to be snowy. I actually just found out it was going to snow yesterday,” said Jorge Ramirez, who was flying to Miami with his family.
What You Need To Know
A winter storm is expected to bring snow and hazardous travel conditions Friday night into Saturday
The National Weather Service warns of treacherous conditions and potential delays after Christmas
New York City issued a travel advisory urging residents to prepare and limit travel when possible
AAA estimates 122 million Americans will travel during the end-of-year holiday period
The winter storm is forecast to arrive Friday night and continue into Saturday morning, prompting some travelers to leave town just ahead of the heaviest snow.
At LaGuardia Airport, one Forest Hills resident said he was trying to stay positive while dropping off a friend before her flight.
“She’s going to Orlando. I’ll be here. That’s why I was saying, ‘Oh, I should be going, too,’” said Dwayne Kirkland. “But I guess I’m just going to be stuck here.”
The National Weather Service said the storm could lead to treacherous travel conditions and delays in the days following Christmas. New York City’s Office of Emergency Management issued a travel advisory, urging residents to prepare for hazardous conditions.
Travelers who managed to get out ahead of the storm said they were relieved to leave the cold behind.
“Oh my God, so glad. I hope there’s no delays or anything like that,” said Ishani Roy, who was flying to Orlando with her family. “Our flight is in half an hour, so hopefully, fingers crossed, it’s all good. We’ve had our fair share of horror stories with airports. It’s been crazy. It’s been good so far, and we’re hoping it stays good.”
According to AAA, an estimated 122 million Americans are expected to travel during the end-of-year holiday period, including about 8 million who will travel by plane.
While some travelers said they will miss the post-Christmas snowfall, many are looking forward to warmer destinations.
“Go to the beach, hopefully, and just soak in the sun because it’s so cold here,” Roy said. “The snow is beautiful, it’s so pretty, but I’m very glad. I go to school in Massachusetts, so I’m begging to get away from the cold. But you can’t have wintertime without the snow.”
City officials are urging New Yorkers who remain in the city to plan ahead, limit travel when possible and give sanitation crews room to operate on city streets as the storm moves through.