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| Poor Weather Spoils Getaway Day for Holiday Travelers in U.S. | Poor Weather Spoils Getaway Day for Holiday Travelers in U.S. |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It is the shortest day of the year, but for holiday travelers, it could feel like one of the longest. | It is the shortest day of the year, but for holiday travelers, it could feel like one of the longest. |
| As of late afternoon, 5,000 flights had been delayed within, into, or out of the United States, and another 300 had been canceled, according to flight tracking data. Travelers should check their flight status, and here’s what to do if your flight is canceled. | As of late afternoon, 5,000 flights had been delayed within, into, or out of the United States, and another 300 had been canceled, according to flight tracking data. Travelers should check their flight status, and here’s what to do if your flight is canceled. |
| At least two major airlines with hubs in the New York City area, JetBlue and United, waived rebooking fees for some fliers traveling through the metropolitan region’s airports. | At least two major airlines with hubs in the New York City area, JetBlue and United, waived rebooking fees for some fliers traveling through the metropolitan region’s airports. |
| Though a partial government shutdown looms after midnight, the Homeland Security Department will mostly not be affected. The 53,000 agents employed by the Transportation Security Administration will be at work, and they will be joined by air traffic controllers and aviation and railroad safety inspectors. All will have to work without pay. | Though a partial government shutdown looms after midnight, the Homeland Security Department will mostly not be affected. The 53,000 agents employed by the Transportation Security Administration will be at work, and they will be joined by air traffic controllers and aviation and railroad safety inspectors. All will have to work without pay. |
| The stormy weather coincides with the arrival of winter at 5:23 p.m. in the Northern Hemisphere. | The stormy weather coincides with the arrival of winter at 5:23 p.m. in the Northern Hemisphere. |
| But it did not feel like winter, with temperatures about 10 to 25 degrees above average for the Northeast. New York City hit a record high of 62 degrees, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. The city had reached 61 degrees in 2011. | But it did not feel like winter, with temperatures about 10 to 25 degrees above average for the Northeast. New York City hit a record high of 62 degrees, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. The city had reached 61 degrees in 2011. |
| In Boston, the thermostat rose to 63 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 degrees, set on this day in 1957. Strong winds in the Boston metro area were expected to last through the night. | |
| Heavy rain has fallen throughout the day from the Mid-Atlantic region to the Northeast, and the National Weather Service issued flood watches, from the Appalachians to New England, as the rain, pulled northward by air currents from the Caribbean, fell on ground already saturated by an incredibly wet autumn. | Heavy rain has fallen throughout the day from the Mid-Atlantic region to the Northeast, and the National Weather Service issued flood watches, from the Appalachians to New England, as the rain, pulled northward by air currents from the Caribbean, fell on ground already saturated by an incredibly wet autumn. |
| “Warmth and the moisture go hand in hand,” because warmer air holds more moisture than colder air, said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Weather Underground. | “Warmth and the moisture go hand in hand,” because warmer air holds more moisture than colder air, said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Weather Underground. |
| At least 16 cities have already broken records for their wettest years on record, even as much of the western United States struggles with drought. | At least 16 cities have already broken records for their wettest years on record, even as much of the western United States struggles with drought. |
| This dichotomy — an extremely dry West and a very wet Northeast — is in keeping with the kind of changes expected in a warming climate. | This dichotomy — an extremely dry West and a very wet Northeast — is in keeping with the kind of changes expected in a warming climate. |
| “In a warmer atmosphere, there’s more moisture being evaporated from the oceans to feed into the heaviest rain events,” Mr. Henson said. “Where it’s dry, the warmth helps moisture to evaporate from that dry land. The same process can intensify drought impacts and intensify the heaviest rains.” | “In a warmer atmosphere, there’s more moisture being evaporated from the oceans to feed into the heaviest rain events,” Mr. Henson said. “Where it’s dry, the warmth helps moisture to evaporate from that dry land. The same process can intensify drought impacts and intensify the heaviest rains.” |
| More than 300,000 homes and businesses lost power Thursday afternoon in Western Washington, including neighborhoods in Seattle, as wind gusts exceeded 70 miles per hour along the coast, the Weather Service said. | More than 300,000 homes and businesses lost power Thursday afternoon in Western Washington, including neighborhoods in Seattle, as wind gusts exceeded 70 miles per hour along the coast, the Weather Service said. |
| No serious injuries have been reported, but falling trees cut off power lines and damaged cars, homes, roads and bridges. High winds and rain are predicted through early next week. State officials also warned of an increased threat of landslides in the western part of the state. | No serious injuries have been reported, but falling trees cut off power lines and damaged cars, homes, roads and bridges. High winds and rain are predicted through early next week. State officials also warned of an increased threat of landslides in the western part of the state. |
| Earlier this week, a rare tornado — with peak winds of 120 to 130 miles per hour — touched down in Port Orchard, just west of Seattle. While no serious injuries were reported, more than 200 structures were damaged. | Earlier this week, a rare tornado — with peak winds of 120 to 130 miles per hour — touched down in Port Orchard, just west of Seattle. While no serious injuries were reported, more than 200 structures were damaged. |
| Several low-intensity tornadoes touched down in Florida on Thursday, damaging more than 70 homes in a mobile home park in Pasco County, north of Tampa. A 90-year-old woman was hit on the head when part of her condominium’s roof collapsed in Polk County, in Central Florida. | Several low-intensity tornadoes touched down in Florida on Thursday, damaging more than 70 homes in a mobile home park in Pasco County, north of Tampa. A 90-year-old woman was hit on the head when part of her condominium’s roof collapsed in Polk County, in Central Florida. |
| On Friday afternoon, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay was closed to traffic because of 70-mile-per-hour winds. A Category 1 hurricane produces sustained winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour. North of Tampa Bay, Jeff Frederick was out for a run in Hernando County when he got caught in a hailstorm. “Thanks for the massage,” he wrote on Twitter. | On Friday afternoon, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay was closed to traffic because of 70-mile-per-hour winds. A Category 1 hurricane produces sustained winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour. North of Tampa Bay, Jeff Frederick was out for a run in Hernando County when he got caught in a hailstorm. “Thanks for the massage,” he wrote on Twitter. |
| Tornado and flood warnings will be in place through Saturday, the National Weather Service said. | Tornado and flood warnings will be in place through Saturday, the National Weather Service said. |