The most common cause of delays or cancellations for flights is the weather, but that doesn't just mean thunderstorms.

Weather is a major contributor to flight delays and cancellations, impacting air travel safety and schedules. Various conditions such as precipitation, wind, and fog can disrupt airport operations, with reduced visibility being particularly challenging when it drops to half a mile or less. Airports like San Francisco International are especially affected by fog, but this type of delay can occur at both large and small airports.

Low clouds, even when associated with only light rain showers, can lead to significant delays, particularly at airports located near mountainous terrain. Pilots require adequate visibility to land safely, making lower cloud ceilings a persistent concern for flight scheduling.

Thunderstorms bring their own set of complications, including lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds, which can prompt ground stops or force planes to divert to other airports. Major airports in regions such as the Southeast United States, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, frequently experience such disruptions, which may cause delays that extend to other parts of the country due to the interconnected nature of air traffic.

High wind speeds, generally around 40 miles per hour or greater, are known to produce delays at high-traffic airports like Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK. These locations are especially sensitive to wind-related disruptions because of their flight volumes.

Travellers are advised to check with their airlines for real-time updates on delays or cancellations. Booking earlier flights and allowing extra time between connecting flights can help minimize the risk of missing connections due to weather delays.



How different kinds of weather can lead to flight delays

The vast majority of flight delays and cancellations are weather-related. Conditions like precipitation, wind, and fog greatly affect how safe and enjoyable flying can be. When visibility drops to half mile or less, it can be very detrimental to air travel. This often leads to delays and sometimes even cancellations, especially in airports like San Francisco International, which is notorious for fog. Unlike other weather conditions that may only affect larger airports, fog can cause delays at any airport, big or small. While it may only be producing scattered light rain showers, low clouds like these can cause significant delays, especially at airports surrounded by mountains. The lower the clouds, the more likely the delays as pilots need clear visibility to land safely. Thunderstorms can cause significant disruptions due to lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds. Airports in regions like the Southeast, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, frequently deal with this, but even thunderstorms on the outer fringes of metro areas may be enough to impact the airspace, leading to ground stops or diversions where planes are rerouted to other airports. This often creates that ripple effect, causing delays across the entire country. Wind speeds affect airports differently based on their volume of flights. Generally, wind gusts of 40 miles per hour or greater will produce at least minor delays at airports like Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK. They're all particularly susceptible to wind delays. So what can you do? Check with your airline to be aware of any flight delays or cancellations. Fly earlier in the day to help avoid any cascading delays from earlier flights. And if you are booking a connection, try and give enough buffer time between flights in case of a weather delay on the first leg of your trip. And I always love to say, pack your patience. Stay flying. We'll be right back.

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