By Danny R. Johnson – Travel News Editor
Knowing how weather affects air travel won’t make your flight cancellations any less frustrating. But it will make you smarter—and maybe a little calmer.
Flight delays or cancellations can be caused by various factors, including crew issues and animals on the runway. However, weather is the primary cause, accounting for over 75% of delays longer than 15 minutes according to the FAA. Low visibility, hail, high winds at takeoff, and thunderstorms are common weather-related causes. The impact varies based on the severity and location of the weather. Here’s what you need to know about how weather affects travel.
Who decides to cancel or delay a flight because of the weather?
Jennifer Stroozas, a meteorologist with the Aviation Weather Center (AWC), explained that decisions on flight delays or cancellations due to weather involve collaboration between the AWC, FAA, and airlines. However, individual airports make the final call for cancellations.
The determination is initiated at the AWC headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. This organization, staffed by meteorologists, analyzes atmospheric conditions, develops forecasts for potential hazards, and issues advisories. These advisories are sent to the FAA Command Center in Warrenton, Virginia.
“We have meteorologists there providing updates on weather, informing the FAA about its location, development, and expected movement,” Stroozas said. “It involves a balance between us gathering weather-hazard information specific to aviation and our FAA partners using that information to decide on actions.”
According to the FAA, this includes routing aircraft away from dangerous weather and potentially delaying flights scheduled to land at or depart from airports experiencing severe weather.
Stroozas added that many airlines have their own meteorologists who also communicate with the FAA and AWC to share the information they have gathered. “There is significant collaboration occurring every day to ensure people travel safely,” Stroozas said.
Which weather conditions most affect planes?
Thunderstorms often cause flight delays due to turbulence and potential hail damage, making it essential to avoid them. Winter storms also disrupt flights, with snow and ice accumulation on runways and the need for aircraft de-icing. Stroozas noted that icing changes the plane’s physics, presenting danger. Hurricanes and tropical storms bring strong winds, rain, and flooding, while dense fog reduces visibility for pilots. These weather conditions force longer routes, leading to further delays and a ripple effect on other flights.
Does location matter?
Even if the weather is clear locally, a major storm in a crowded airspace can cause nationwide disruptions. On June 26, 2023, storms in the Northeast resulted in over 11,000 flight delays and cancellations. Extreme weather can lead to airport shutdowns and widespread cancellations.
“How impactful [a weather event] is does sometimes depend on the location,” Stroozas said. “Any bad weather at the wrong place at the wrong time can cause disruptions.”
Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, emphasizes that while destinations may handle certain weather types, flights must first be able to take off. For example, a chilly 30-degree day in Minnesota might severely disrupt operations in Charleston, as seen in January 2018 with freezing rain. Although planes can de-ice mid-flight, sunbelt airports lack equipment for such weather, affecting runway operations.
During severe storms or uncommon weather events, such as a snowstorm in a southern state, each airport determines whether planes are allowed to fly based on their available safety equipment.
