Severe storms grounded flights and caused significant delays at Houston’s two main airports on July 13, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration implemented weather-related ground stops just after 11:20 a.m. at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and before 11:30 a.m. at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). FlightAware data for the day showed 54 delayed flights at Intercontinental, ranking it third in the nation for disruptions, while Hobby registered 24 delays, placing it in the top ten nationwide.
Flight Delays and Ground Stops at Houston Airports
Average flight delays peaked at 45 minutes at George Bush Intercontinental and 49 minutes at Hobby during the storms. The FAA ground stops halted
departures for both airports amid hazardous weather conditions. These delays coincided with the heaviest rainfall and flooding spreading across Southeast Texas.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported cumulative rainfall totals forecasted between 1 and 3 inches, with localized amounts potentially exceeding 5 inches due to repeatedly training storms. The NWS maintained a level 2 of 4 flood risk through July 14, 2026, warning of ongoing flood threats in the region.
Storm Causes and Forecast
The severe weather event stemmed from tropical Gulf moisture combining with a stalled northern front, creating heavy downpours and widespread street flooding across Southeast Texas. The National Weather Service identified
a deep tropical airmass engulfing the region as a key factor in the intense rainfall.
The NWS forecast bulletin stated, “Greatest coverage of (thunderstorm) activity is expected during late morning through early evening hours.” A lull in storm activity was anticipated late Monday night, followed by another round of storms early Tuesday morning, July 14.
Traveler Impact and National Flight Disruption Rankings
Flight operations remained heavily disrupted at both IAH and HOU airports on July 13 due to weather grounding, causing mounting flight delays and cancellations. Travelers experienced an average delay near 45 to 49 minutes as departures were temporarily halted.
FlightAware ranked George Bush Intercontinental Airport
third nationwide for flight delays on the day of the storms with 54 delayed flights. William P. Hobby Airport also appeared among the top ten U.S. airports for delays with 24 flights affected.
