Thunderstorms grounded all departing flights at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly after 11:20 a.m. on July 14, with the ground stop ordered to last until 12:45 p.m. William P. Hobby Airport implemented a similar ground stop just before 11:30 a.m., scheduled to remain in effect until 1 p.m. Departure delays at Intercontinental averaged about 35 minutes following the ground stop, while Hobby Airport’s delays surged from an initial 12 minutes to around 49 minutes.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that both ground stops carry a 30 to 60 percent probability of extension due to ongoing thunderstorms. These weather-related ground
stops are currently the only such FAA reports nationwide. Houston is under the influence of a “deep tropical airmass,” which the National Weather Service in Houston identified as the cause behind the severe storm activity impacting the region.
Flight Delays and National Airport Rankings
Flight delays and cancellations remain significant at Houston’s two major airports. George Bush Intercontinental Airport recorded 54 delayed or canceled flights, while William P. Hobby Airport accounted for 24. Meanwhile, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, another major regional hub, logged the highest number of flight disruptions in the country today with 132 delayed or canceled flights, according to Flight Aware’s Misery Map.
Before
the ground stops were issued, delays at George Bush Intercontinental Airport were near zero. Post ground stop, delays averaged 35 minutes. Hobby Airport saw a sharp increase as delays more than tripled following the ground stop. Both Houston airports rank among the top 10 U.S. airports for flight disruptions on July 14, reflecting the significant impact of the weather event on air travel in Southeast Texas.
