Thunderstorms delay U.S. Memorial Day flights
- Thunderstorms and severe-weather threats disrupted U.S. Memorial Day air travel on May 23 and May 24, with the FAA warning of delays at major hubs. - The FAA said more than 54,000 flights were expected on Thursday before the holiday, while weather remained the leading cause of delays. - The National Weather Service said above-average heat would persist in the West through Memorial Day, while rain remained in the East.
The Federal Aviation Administration warned that thunderstorms could delay flights at several major U.S. airports during the Memorial Day travel period, as severe weather and heavy holiday traffic collided across the national airspace system. FAA air traffic reports on May 22 flagged possible disruptions in Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa and Orlando, among other hubs. By Sunday, the agency’s National Airspace System dashboard showed active and forecast delay programs tied to thunderstorms at Chicago O’Hare and possible ground stops or delays later in the day at airports including New York-area hubs, Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa and Orlando. ### Which airports were under the most pressure? Chicago O’Hare was under a ground delay on Sunday morning, with the FAA listing an average delay of 44 minutes and citing thunderstorms as the reason. The FAA dashboard also showed possible ground stops or delay programs later Sunday at John F. Kennedy, Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington-area airports, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa and Orlando. (faa.gov) The FAA said travelers should check airport status and flight status before leaving for the airport. On its summer travel page, the agency said weather is the leading cause of delays and cancellations in the National Airspace System and said its command center works with airlines to plan around expected weather. ### Where was the severe weather threat centered on Sunday? The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said at 11:41 a.m. (nasstatus.faa.gov) CDT on Sunday, May 24, that there was a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across Siouxland and the Middle Missouri Valley. The center said severe storms capable of hail and wind could develop later in the afternoon and evening, with isolated severe storms also possible across other parts of the central and southern Plains and the Southeast. (faa.gov) The same outlook said an area moving across Alabama could influence thunderstorm development across Georgia, South Carolina and the southern Appalachians, with isolated wind damage possible. The forecast also cited parts of north and central Texas for strong or locally severe storms capable of downbursts and possibly hail. ### Why were Memorial Day travelers already being told to expect delays? (forecast.weather.gov) The FAA said it expected more than 54,000 flights on Thursday as travelers headed out for the long weekend. The agency said summer travel would bring more planes in the sky, frequent bad weather and increased use of the nation’s airspace, and urged passengers to arrive early and check flight status. FlightAware’s MiseryMap showed broad disruption across parts of the United States on May 23 and May 24, reflecting delays and cancellations around the holiday weekend. (forecast.weather.gov) FlightAware also said its airport-delay tracker was reporting hundreds of delays within, into or out of the United States. ### Was the weather problem nationwide? The National Weather Service said a wet Memorial Day weekend was in store for the East, with widespread rainfall of 1 inch to more than 2 inches expected from the Gulf Coast to southern New England. (faa.gov) The agency also said well above normal temperatures were forecast to build across the northern Plains. The broader split in conditions meant different risks for travelers depending on destination. (flightaware.com) The FAA listed low ceilings as a concern in Washington and San Francisco in its May 22 air traffic report, while wind was forecast in Denver and thunderstorms were expected in parts of Texas, the Southeast and Florida. ### What should travelers watch next? Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25, and the FAA’s summer travel guidance says passengers should keep checking airport status pages and airline-specific flight information as weather evolves. (weather.gov) The National Weather Service’s active alerts, convective outlooks and local forecast offices were continuing to update conditions on Sunday. (faa.gov 1) (faa.gov 2)
