Weather forces cancellation of 200 flights at PHL

About 200 flights were canceled Wednesday afternoon at Philadelphia International Airport as wintry weather caused travel woes around the region.

Arriving flights that were not canceled were experiencing delays of more than four hours Wednesday night because of high winds, said Victoria Lupica, an airport spokeswoman.

There were delays throughout the day "as a result of our weather and weather elsewhere," Lupica said.

The National Weather Service said the Philadelphia region was expected to get as much as two inches of rain, and a flood watch was in effect for Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and northern Delaware.

Bucks County warned of possible flooding along the Neshaminy Creek.

Strong gusty winds were also expected across the region. Downed power lines were being reported late in the afternoon.

While Philadelphia was seeing only rain late Wednesday, snow was causing problems elsewhere in the state.

Bradford Township in north-central Pennsylvania reported a foot of snow late Wednesday night, said meteorologist Jim Hayes of the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

Wind gusts exceeded 60 m.p.h. in Ocean County, N.J., and in Delaware, Hayes said.

Most of the storm was heading out of the area overnight and conditions would be "slowly getting better," Hayes said.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission reduced the speed limit on the Northeast Extension to 45 m.p.h. from the Mid-County to Clarks Summit interchanges.

Speed limits also were reduced elsewhere around Pennsylvania.

The New Jersey state police Twitter account reported at 4:11 p.m.: "Road conditions are beginning to deteriorate and weather related crashes are starting. Slow your roll to maintain control."

For people with planned flights or airport pickups, Lupica said, "we highly recommend everyone check with their airlines on the status of their flights."

People may call 1-800-745-4283 or visit www.phl.org for flight-status updates.