Holiday Travelers Take to Roads and Skies; Shoppers Cash in On Late Deals
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The journey home for many travelers at Tri-State area airports began days ago, however harsh winter weather across the country has caused headaches for fliers and drivers alike.
Holidays travelers are enduring significant delays at New York City-area airports because of the rainy and icy weather.
The FAA says that Newark Liberty International Airport was experiencing delays of more than four hours, while Kennedy International Airport had delays averaging about three hours.
The situation was far worse in Chicago, where travelers slept on cots and on the floor Tuesday night, and faced the prospect of doing it again on Christmas Eve.
Drivers were welcomed Wednesday morning with black ice and treacherous conditions across Tri-State area roads.
Stan Brooks at Penn Station
In New Jersey, a mix of and commuters and holiday travelers encountered rain and ice that closed at least 15 roads early Wednesday.
Among the closures during the morning were portions of Interstate 80 and the Garden State Parkway.
And the speed limits on the New Jersey Turnpike were reduced to
35 miles per hour in some areas.
Some 600 state salt trucks and rising temperatures helped clear matters up by midday.
Meanwhile, 1010 WINS reporter Steve Sandberg caught up with one traveler at the Newark Liberty Airport who was trying to get home to eastern Pennsylvania for Christmas.
"My flight got canceled last night and now I am re-booked on Christmas Day," He said.
1010 WINS: You know you can just hop in a car and get there in a few hours.
"Every single rental car is booked," he said.
However, there is some good news for travelers - the weather across the Tri-State will warm up and the freezing rain that fell in the morning was expected to change to plain rain by Wednesday afternoon.
For Christmas Day, AccuWeather says to expect windy and party sunny conditions with highs above 40 degrees.
The lousy weather and poor economy isn't stopping many from trying to cash in on some last minute deals a day before the Christmas holiday.
Sonia Rincon Reports
However, it's a red Christmas for retailers -- as in red ink.
Yes, last-minute shoppers are heading to the nation's stores and malls on this day before Christmas. But for the retailers, the season was essentially over long ago.
Many merchants who are on the edge of survival are already tallying up just how dismal their sales were in a season expected to be the worst in decades.
In Christmases past, the retail industry relied on a surge before and after Christmas to help save the season. But the holiday period was virtually over before the Thanksgiving weekend ended as stores grapple with the most severe cutback in consumer spending in decades.
Retailers' woes were good news for the dwindling numbers of shoppers who could afford to load up on deals. With mounds of inventory still left to sell, merchants are expected to deepen the discounts even more the day after Christmas.
Over in Washington, President George W. Bush and his members of his extended family are spending a last presidential Christmas at Camp David.
Holiday visitors to the Maryland mountain retreat include the president's twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, and Jenna's husband, Henry Hager. The president's parents are also there, along with his siblings and their families.
Bush and his wife, Laura, have now spent a dozen Christmases at Camp David -- every year during Bush's presidency and during his father's own four years in the Oval Office.
Bush spent part of Wednesday making Christmas Eve calls to several U.S. service members stationed around the world, thanking them for their sacrifices and service.
(Inset photo: The result of a spin out in Newark, Steve Sandberg)
TM & Copyright 2008 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO & EYE Logo TM & Copyright 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. TheAssociated Press contributed to this report. North Jesery.com contributed to this report.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
In New Jersey, a mix of and commuters and holiday travelers encountered rain and ice that closed at least 15 roads early Wednesday. 
