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

More than 2,000 flights were dropped.

Major airports like JFK and LaGuardia were took a beating.

Delays lasted for hours.

The National Weather Service alerted travelers.

Tornado watches included a handful of states.

Intense rain and wind shut down runways.

Powerful gusts kept aircraft on the ground all over.

Airlines advised travelers to stay alert for updates.

A summer storm system worsened conditions.

By afternoon, airports slowly reopened.

Passengers waited for updates on their journeys.