Windy weather caused delays at area airports on a busy holiday travel weekend.

Newark Liberty International Airport reported delays of up to four hours by Friday evening and which were expected to get worse as thousands of people headed to the airport to get away for the Passover and Easter holidays.

Winds gusts were up to 17 mph in Newark. But airport officials said that bad weather in other parts of the country added to the delays. New Jersey was expected to see strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms Friday night going into Saturday.

Airport officials say that it has been a busy travel week across the country due to the holidays and spring break vacations. The Transportation Security Administration reported a record number of travelers passing through Newark Liberty Thursday. The TSA says that 78,811 travelers were screened.

Some travelers tell News 12 New Jersey that the busy holiday is why they are flying and not driving.

“That’s why I didn’t drive, knowing that I was coming back up to New Jersey on Good Friday. So I selected to fly,” said Thomas Brooks of Manasquan.

The TSA says that they expect the number of travelers to rise as the weekend progresses.

Travelers are urged to check with their airlines to find out the status of their flights.