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

More than 2,000 flights got scrapped.

Big airports like JFK and LaGuardia were hit hard.

Delays lasted for a long time.

The National Weather Service issued warnings.

Tornado watches spanned several states.

Heavy rain and wind shut down runways.

Powerful gusts grounded planes all over.

Airlines advised travelers to stay alert for updates.

A mid-summer storm system made things worse.

By afternoon, airports cautiously reopened.

Passengers looked for the latest news on their journeys.