Wet Weather Gives Way To Flooding, Icy Road Conditions

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Wet weather made traveling across the Tri-State Area difficult and dangerous Wednesday.

Winter weather advisories were in effect for much of the area, with a winter storm warning in effect for Orange County, New York and Sussex County, New Jersey.

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Disabled and overturned cars littered the northbound Saw Mill Parkway in Yonkers, and a series of accidents closed the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in both directions for more than two hours, CBS2's Elise Finch reported.

"Kind of slushy and a little treacherous here and there," one man said.

"Cautionary, slow going," another added. 

Snow and sleet were largely to blame, Finch reported.

"The roadway surface was extremely slick and it became slick very quickly. I would say the snow probably was dropping at a rate of at least an inch an hour," New York State Police Captain George Mohl said. "It started coming down pretty heavy."

Later in the day, the snow and sleet turned to rain. 

There was another scare in  Yonkers when a fire truck slid on icy pavement and skidded into a brick building, CBS2's Jessica Layton reported. No one was hurt, but the fire department was called to help their colleagues secure the scene.

A car in Connecticut came around a curve and the driver lost control, slamming into a utility pole. It's unclear if anyone was hurt.

Authorities in New Jersey were forced to close flooded streets. West Fort Lee Road was blocked off from River Road to the Hackensack border, as vehicles elsewhere had to navigate their washed-over routes home.

As temperatures continue to fall overnight, ice will develop on streets, sidewalks and other surfaces, meaning the dangerous conditions aren't done yet.

"It's miserable, it's a hassle and it's scary for me," one woman said. "I stay in the right hand lane and don't care about anyone else, so I take my time."

Many schools across the Tri-State Area were closed or delayed Wednesday morning and hundreds of flights were impacted, as well.

Major delays and numerous cancellations were seen at area airports.

As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, Newark Liberty International Airport reported just under 350 total delays and just over 265 total cancellations for the day; John F. Kennedy International Airport reported just under 265 total delays and just under 115 total cancellations; and LaGuardia Airport reported 495 total delays and just over 183 total cancellations.

Travelers at Newark Airport were experiencing approximately 60-minute departure delays and 40-minute delays in arrivals. People at JFK Airport faced approximately 35-minute departure delays, while those at LaGuarda saw approximately 1 hour and 25-minute departure delays and 1 hour and 10-minute arrival delays.

All three area airports tweeted that airlines were waiving cancellation or change fees due to weather. Travelers were urged to contact their carriers before heading to the airport.