Eastbound and Down: Nearly All Flights to Northeast Cancelled

We may be 3,000 miles away from the apocalyptic events that are bombarding the Northeast (now some experts think that in addition to earthquakes and hurricanes, tornadoes may make their way through the area), but we're not wholly unaffected: most flights heading east have been cancelled because of Hurricane Irene, reports CBS News.

Air traffic control has been suspended as of 10:00 p.m. GMT last night at five airports in the New York area, including JFK and LaGuardia, and Logan International Airport in Boston is reporting numerous cancellations, which are expected to continue through tomorrow. According to the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia International Airport closed last night.

Dulles International Airport and Reagan International Airport, both in the DC area, have reopened as of today, both reporting no major damage from yesterday's storms.

According to CBS, more than 8,000 flights have been cancelled nationwide because of the hurricane, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm. Irene is expected to continue its path north and head over New England today.