Phoenix flights get canceled as big winter storm hits back East

PHOENIX — Despite warm weather and sunshine engulfing Phoenix, a winter storm back East has disrupted air travel in Arizona.

About 60 flights coming to or leaving Sky Harbor Airport were canceled Tuesday, as Winter Storm Stella pounded part of the East Coast.

Traveling soon? Some flights have been impacted due to #StellaBlizzard Check flight status with your airline before coming to the airport.

— PHX Sky Harbor (@PHXSkyHarbor) March 14, 2017

Across the nation, nearly 6,000 flights were grounded.

The storm has dropped almost 2 feet of snow in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains and the northern reaches of New Jersey.

About 215,000 customers were without power Tuesday from Virginia to New England.

Karen Menezes and her family have been trying to get home to Providence, Rhode Island since Monday.

“We get in to Baltimore but we won’t get home from there. We’ll probably have to drive or take a train, whatever is going to be available.”

Winds in Narragnsett, Rhode Island were gusting up to 55 mph.

“It’s warm here, it’s really rather nice,” Menezes said.

Yes, it is warm here. Tuesday’s high was expected in the 90s, and that goes for the rest of the week. The National Weather Service’s Phoenix bureau reported the early morning low at Sky Harbor was 63 degrees.

If you have outdoor plans this week, esp. Saturday, be sure to use sunscreen & drink LOTS of water! Record high temp in Phoenix Sat. #azwx pic.twitter.com/87C7wlfu8o

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) March 14, 2017

Monday’s high of 92 tied a record for the date set in 1972.

KTAR’s Jim Cross and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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