Wind causes flight arrival, departure delays at Kennedy, FAA says

As a result of windy conditions Thursday evening, flight arrivals at Kennedy Airport were being delayed an average of around an hour and 50 minutes, with some departures affected as well, the Federal Aviation Administration said on its website.

Travelers were advised to check with their airlines, the FAA said.

As of late afternoon, 15 mph winds were being recorded, with gusts of up to 24 mph, the National Weather Service said. Flights at LaGuardia Airport were experiencing delays of 30 to 45 minutes due to volume, while Long Island MacArthur Airport was not affected, according to the FAA.

The weather service's Upton office on Thursday also previewed the weekend before Christmas -- a getaway time for many -- calling for daytime temperatures in the low to mid-40s through Sunday with some whippy winds from the northwest Thursday and the north on Friday.

A meager chance for a rain-snow mix is in the forecast Saturday night, the service said, but with an overnight low of 35 degrees, there's very little opportunity for accumulation.

The winds are likely to dissipate somewhat late Friday, the service said.

After a mostly dry weekend, rain is expected Monday and Tuesday on Long Island, followed by a major storm that is likely to affect the Midwest and Northeast with strong winds, snow and heavy rain, the service said.

Most of the snow is centered off Long Island, but those traveling by car can expect precipitation on major roadways, especially on Wednesday, the day before Christmas.

For Long Island, the storm system is likely to deliver rain and high winds.

National forecasts said those traveling by air might expect the potential for flight delays, especially in areas along the I-95 corridor.