Storms pounded the U.S. East Coast on Wednesday.

More than 2,000 flights were canceled.

Major airports like JFK and LaGuardia were took a beating.

Delays lasted for a long time.

The National Weather Service alerted travelers.

Tornado watches covered several states.

Heavy rain and wind closed runways.

Forceful gusts kept aircraft on the ground all over.

Airlines told flyers to stay alert for updates.

A summer storm system made things worse.

By afternoon, airports gradually reopened.

Passengers looked for the latest news on their journeys.