Originally Posted by WWads

LGA is an old-style postage stamp airport trying to function as a hub for two airlines. There's just not enough space for all the traffic that it sees. Plus ground control is extra touchy about the runways during bad weather after that MD88 nearly went into the East River a few years ago.

The overall ATC situation has a lot to do with it. During peak times, ZNY/ZBW/ZDC are packed to the gills, and there's not much extra slack when things go south. Exhibit A of why the US needs a complete ATC overhaul. True high-speed rail in the NEC would also help a lot, but that's getting off-topic.