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

More than 2,000 flights got scrapped.

Busy airports like JFK and LaGuardia were took a beating.

Delays lasted for several hours.

The National Weather Service alerted travelers.

Tornado watches spanned a handful of states.

Intense rain and wind closed runways.

Strong gusts stalled flights all over.

Airlines informed passengers to watch for changes.

A summer storm system exacerbated the situation.

By afternoon, airports gradually reopened.

Passengers awaited new information on their journeys.