Severe Weather Causes Ground Stops at Atlanta, Houston, and Charlotte Airports
A series of severe storms swept across the Midwest and Southeast on Friday and Saturday, creating significant disruptions for travelers. Thunderstorms triggered ground stops at Atlanta, Houston, and Charlotte airports, leading to hundreds of delayed or diverted flights.
Diversions at Atlanta
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) experienced major delays on Friday night due to severe weather. US Customs and Border Protection officials reported that eight international flights were diverted to other regional airports. The ground stop was lifted as conditions improved, but the simultaneous arrival of diverted flights caused significant processing delays, lasting until 01:00 on Saturday. According to FlightAware, ATL saw 701 delays on Friday, with Delta Air Lines being the most affected, recording 460 delays. On Saturday, ATL had 635 delays and 10 cancellations, with Delta again experiencing the majority of delays.
Houston Hurricane Threat
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston faced a ground stop on Saturday afternoon, resulting in over 600 flight disruptions. The stop, implemented at 15:37 local time, lasted until 17:00. IAH recorded 556 delays and 79 cancellations, with United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, delaying 294 flights and canceling nine. The situation could worsen as Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to strengthen and hit the Texas coast as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday. The region remains under a tropical storm warning, with significant rain and wind forecasted.
Flooding in Charlotte
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) also issued a short-lived ground stop on Saturday evening due to scattered storms. The stop, initially expected to last until at least 19:45, was lifted just before 19:30. Mecklenburg and Union counties were under flood advisories as the storms passed through. CLT recorded 580 delays and 28 cancellations on Saturday.
In Conclusion
The severe weather over the weekend caused widespread disruptions at three major US airports, affecting thousands of travelers. With more storms expected, particularly in Houston due to the impending hurricane, travelers should stay informed and prepare for potential further delays and cancellations.