Thousands of flights grounds as massive snowstorm hits US east coast

New York, USA, Jan 29 (EFE).- More than 3,500 flights were canceled on Saturday due to a huge snowstorm that is striking the east coast of the United States with temperatures well below zero degrees Celsius and strong winds.

By 9.30am, 3,520 flights had been canceled in the country, according to tracking site FlightAware.

A total of 886 were canceled at New York’s JFK airport, another 556 at New York’s LaGuardia airfield and as many as 608 were suspended at Newark airport in neighboring New Jersey.

The storm is affecting much of the northeastern United States, from Virginia to Maine.

Snowfall is expected to reach 30 centimeters in many areas and up to 60 centimeters in places such as Massashusetts, including the metropolitan area of its capital, Boston.

Authorities in the affected states have asked citizens to avoid any unnecessary travel.

New Jersey and New York, which woke up covered by snow, remain in a state of emergency since Friday night and many services and establishments have announced that they will not open for business on Saturday.

In New York, temperatures of -9 degrees Celsius were expected, with highs not predicted to exceed -6. EFE

jfu/ks