Topline
Strong storm systems along the Gulf Coast and in the East contributed to over 6,000 flight delays Thursday, marking the latest wave of delays worsened by inclement weather this week as the Juneteenth holiday weekend approaches.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experienced among the most flight delays among U.S. airports Thursday.
(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Flight delays in the U.S. reached just over 6,000 as of 4 p.m. on Thursday, according to FlightAware, which also logged 139 cancellations.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recorded over 500 flight delays (though only 12 cancellations) as of Thursday afternoon, while a tornado watch and flood watch remains in effect for much of Georgia, according to the National Weather Service.
A total of 37% of inbound flights at Boston Logan International Airport were delayed Thursday as parts of Massachusetts face high winds and a tornado watch.
Philadelphia International Airport, which is seeing high wind speeds and overcast conditions Thursday, had delays for 25% of its inbound flights and 35% of its outbound flights.
John F. Kennedy International Airport delays topped 360 amid mostly cloudy and windy conditions.
What To Watch For
The NWS has forecast a “substantial flash flooding threat across the Gulf Coast and Southeast” over the next few days, with possible torrential rainfall and thunderstorms across eastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Georgia. The severe weather is accompanying remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. The NWS expects an active cold front in the East, causing severe weather in the Northeast, to dissipate and move off the coast early Friday morning.
Key Background
More than 5,000 flight delays were also recorded on Wednesday, when Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport experienced hundreds of disruptions, respectively. Many airlines, including Delta, American, Southwest and United offered waivers for passengers who were scheduled to fly Wednesday. Ahead of Juneteenth on Friday, the Transportation Security Administration said it is expecting high volumes of travel from Thursday to Sunday.
Further Reading
Severe Weather Across Midwest And Southeast Wednesday—Airlines Issue Waivers (Forbes)