Rains inundated New York and New Jersey airports Friday, canceling or delaying hundreds of flights and generating air traffic congestion.
LaGuardia Airport had around 400 delayed flights and 300 canceled flights as of 6 p.m., according to FlightAware. John F. Kennedy International Airport had around 400 delays and 200 cancellations. Flights out of LaGuardia were briefly suspended Friday by the FAA. Most inbound planes were delayed over two hours. Flooding shuttered the Marine Air Terminal concourse, Terminal A. Social media photos and videos showed passengers wading ankle-deep inside and outside the terminal.
FlightAware recorded over 300 delayed flights and nine canceled flights at Newark Liberty International Airport. The FAA expects ground delay programs at all three airports until late Friday night. The National Weather Service said that Friday was the wettest day at JFK Airport since 1948 after torrential rain swamped Queens and New York City. The Airport experienced 7.88 inches of rain in 15 hours, breaking the previous record of 7.8 inches.
According to the NWS, Friday was the wettest September day at the airport since Hurricane Donna in 1960, which dumped 5.83 inches of rain. The NWS issued a flash flood warning for Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and other New Jersey areas through Friday night. “If people drive, they do so at their peril,” stated Gov. Kathy Hochul.
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