The strong storm system that crossed New York and New Jersey this Tuesday left thousands of passengers stranded, forced the cancellation of more than 630 flights and caused delays of several hours at the main airports in the metropolitan area.

The complications reached John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty, on a day marked by torrential rains, electrical activity and a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

The Federal Aviation Administration applied temporary restrictions to reduce traffic in one of the most congested air zones in the country. The measure caused flights bound for New York to remain grounded at their airports of origin and other services to be rescheduled or outright cancelled.

You can see: What to do if your flight is canceled due to a storm: rights as a passenger in the US.

LaGuardia, the most affected airport

LaGuardia concentrated a good part of the problems. During the afternoon, at least 234 flights had been canceled, equivalent to about 43% of its schedule, according to figures compiled by ABC7 New York.

The airport was also subject to a temporary stoppage of operations and a delay program due to the storms. The FAA even reported average delays of more than three hours for some flights bound for LaGuardia.

At JFK, at least 145 flights had been suspended, approximately 21% of scheduled services, while Newark recorded 137 cancellations, close to 23% of its operation, during the first hours of the storm. The numbers continued to increase during the afternoon and collectively exceeded 630 cancellations.

In Newark, in addition, the FAA implemented a ground stop due to the storms and slowed down the entry of aircraft. The flights that were still able to operate accumulated delays, some of them exceeding three hours for passengers waiting to take off from other airports bound for the New York area.

Why a storm in New York affects flights across the country

The consequences of bad weather were not limited to passengers departing from New York.

When the FAA establishes a ground stop, flights bound for an affected airport must remain in their city of origin. This prevents too many aircraft from simultaneously approaching a terminal that has reduced landing capacity.

The result can be felt at airports located hundreds or thousands of miles away. A flight between Miami and New York, for example, may be delayed in Florida even if the sky is clear there.

The delays also carry over to the rest of the programming. When a plane arrives late, it can affect the next flight that was supposed to take place with the same aircraft and crew. This succession of delays usually extends even after the storms move away.

You can see: Why flights don't follow the straight line you see on the map

Tornado warning and heavy rain in the metropolitan area

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Pennsylvania, in effect until 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

The measure indicated that favorable conditions existed for the formation of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, although it did not mean that there was a confirmed tornado in the entire watch area.

In New Jersey, more specific warnings were issued during the afternoon for areas including Paterson, Fair Lawn, Paramus, Caldwell and Cedar Grove. These warnings were of limited duration and corresponded to storms that showed signs of rotation.

New York was also at risk of flash flooding. Notify NYC reported rainfall capable of accumulating between one and two inches in a short time, with possible flooding on highways, streets, underpasses and areas of poor drainage.

What passengers with affected flights should do

Airport authorities and airline companies recommended not going to the airport without first checking the status of the flight.

Even if a service is initially listed as delayed, it may be canceled later if conditions worsen or if the aircraft and crew become out of position. The opposite can also happen: a departure time can be moved up when an FAA restriction is lifted.

Passengers should check:

Several airlines operating in the northeast, including Delta, American, JetBlue and United, enabled flexible policies for certain passengers affected by the storm. The conditions depend on the date of travel, the airport and the type of ticket, so it is necessary to consult directly with each company.

What rights do passengers have if their flight is cancelled?

When an airline cancels a flight and the passenger decides not to accept the alternative trip offered, they can request a refund for the unused leg.

The situation is different when the traveler agrees to be relocated to another service. In that case, the company may not be required to cover meals, hotel or ground transportation if the cancellation was caused by weather conditions beyond its control.

For this reason, it is a good idea to ask before accepting a new reservation what expenses the airline will cover and keep receipts for meals, accommodation and transportation. Credit cards and travel insurance can also offer additional protection for extended delays.

You can see: What to do if an airline declares bankruptcy after you bought your ticket

Delays may continue after storm

Even if weather conditions improve, normalization of flights may require several hours.

Airlines must relocate planes, reorganize crews and find seats for passengers on canceled services. During a week of high demand, that recovery can extend into the next day.

The FAA warned that shutdowns and delay programs could be activated intermittently overnight at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and other airports in the northeast corridor.

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