A winter snow storm spread to New York City and other parts of the US Northeast over the weekend, causing major travel headaches during the holiday season.

New York City received about 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) of snow Friday night into early Saturday, with up to 10 inches of snow seen in other parts of the state.

"The good news is that the heaviest snow is done," said Bob Oravec, a Maryland-based forecaster at the National Weather Service.

"The storm is definitely winding down, a little bit of flurries across the Northeast [on Saturday morning]," he added.

Flights cancelled across Northeast

More than 1,600 flights were cancelled nationwide on Friday and another 800 flights were cancelled on Saturday, according to air traffic tracker FlightAware.

Many more flights were delayed due to the wild weather.

Most of the cancellations were flights out of New York's John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, as well as nearby Newark airport.

Additional flights were cancelled as far away as Philadelphia and Toronto.

Cities emerge from state of emergency

Ahead of the snow storm, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for more than half the state.

"The safety ⁠of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I continue to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm," she said in a statement on Friday.

But as the weather cleared later on Saturday, many took to New York's parks to enjoy the winter wonderland, with one interstate tourist telling the Associated Press news agency that the blanketing was "absolutely beautiful."

Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way had also declared a state of emergency.

"This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel," she said.

"We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to the roads. Drivers should plan their travel accordingly, monitor conditions and road closures, and follow all safety protocols."

Edited by: Rana Taha