THOUSANDS of flights have been canceled or delayed after a monster storm system slammed some of the nation’s busiest airports.
The weather mess kicked off Monday and sent shockwaves across the country, halting air traffic and stranding frustrated travelers in jam-packed terminals.
A powerful storm system canceled or delayed over 10,000 flights across US airports (stock image)[/caption]
The FAA warns delays could continue for days amid tropical downpours and storms (stock image)[/caption]
New York City was hit especially hard with flash flooding and long ground stops at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration held flights at more than a dozen major hubs, including Boston, Washington, DC, and Florida.
JFK passengers faced delays of over three hours, while LaGuardia halted all flights until at least 6:15 pm, FAA trackers showed.
Newark was even worse, ground stops held until 7 pm, and delays stretched to over three hours.
Denver, Boston Logan, Baltimore/Washington, Reagan National, and Dulles were also caught up in the travel chaos.
The storm’s impact stretched from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the Northeast, with tropical downpours and thunderstorms wreaking havoc.
A cold front sweeping in from the Midwest added fuel to the fire, combining with tropical moisture to create a nightmare scenario.
More than 7,800 US flights were delayed on Monday, while 1,457 were canceled, according to FlightAware.
At New York-area airports alone, 716 flights were either delayed or canceled entirely.
Flash flooding in NYC shut down subway lines and soaked runways as over 2 inches of rain fell within one hour Monday night, the second-wettest hour on record.
LaGuardia saw 195 flights canceled Monday, which makes up 34% of its schedule.
Meanwhile, Newark canceled 131, and JFK saw 126 flights scrapped.
Most delays stemmed from FAA-imposed ground holds lasting longer than three hours.
Tuesday brought no major relief as Newark canceled 75 flights by 7:30 am, with 26 delays still posted.
Flights Impacted
Total Delays (US): 7,875
Total Cancellations (US): 1,457
Top Affected Airports (Monday):
- LaGuardia (LGA): 195 cancellations (34% of schedule)
- Newark (EWR): 183 cancellations (29%)
- Reagan National (DCA): 131 cancellations (27%)
- JFK (JFK): 126 cancellations (16%)
Tuesday Morning Update (7:30 am ET):
- Newark (EWR): 75 cancellations, 26 delays
- LaGuardia (LGA): 34 cancellations, 24 delays
- Reagan National (DCA): 28 cancellations, 15 delays
- Philadelphia (PHL): 15 cancellations, 19 delays
Most Affected Airlines:
- Republic: 400 cancellations
- American: 350
- United: 241
- Endeavor Air: 163
- Delta: 145
LaGuardia followed with 34 cancellations and two dozen delays.
Reagan National and Philadelphia International also continued to see disruptions.
Republic Airlines suffered the most Monday with nearly 400 canceled flights.
American Airlines canceled 350 flights while United dropped 241, Endeavor pulled 163, and Delta cut 145 flights.
Only United issued a waiver for impacted passengers.
The FAA warned of “widespread delays” and said more disruption could be on the way.
The National Weather Service is warning of more storms and dangerous heat, with a 105-degree Fahrenheit heat index possible later this week.
Florida has been bracing for days of tropical downpours, threatening further airport trouble.
With both a tropical storm and cold front still active, the delays may last for days.
Travelers are urged to check their airline before heading to the airport.
Even if the skies clear, the ripple effect of the storm will linger nationwide.
