Severe thunderstorms have disrupted air travel across the East Coast, grounding flights at several major airports and causing significant delays ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented ground stops at key hubs, including Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York City, as well as Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings of excessive rainfall and flooding, with up to three inches of rain expected along the East Coast. Travelers are facing widespread disruptions as the storm system moves into the region, with some flights canceled and others delayed for hours. The situation is compounded by ongoing staffing shortages at airports like Newark Liberty, which saw delays of up to four hours due to both weather and operational issues.
On Monday, Newark Liberty Airport, which has been plagued by disruptions due to ongoing staffing shortages, experienced delays of a whopping four hours due to thunderstorms. These interruptions are expected to affect flights until 2 a.m., causing significant inconvenience for travelers. Philadelphia International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport also began experiencing delays this week, with bad weather continuing to wreak havoc on flights as they moved through the area.
According to data from FlightAware, collectively, five airports logged about 600 cancellations and 1,900 delays. LaGuardia Airport had about 180 flights canceled and 400 delayed, according to the site. These numbers highlight the scale of the disruption, with many travelers facing long waits and the risk of missing their flights. The storm system is expected to impact the holiday travel plans of millions of people, with the worst of the weather forecasted to hit on Tuesday, just as many are preparing for the July 4 holiday weekend.
A flood watch was in effect for the Washington, D.C., area, and heavy rains were expected in New York City. This combination of weather events has created a perfect storm of travel challenges, with forecasters warning that the storm system could lead to further delays and disruptions in the days ahead. Travelers are advised to monitor the latest weather updates and adjust their travel plans accordingly to minimize the impact of the storm system on their holiday travel.