The Federal Aviation Administration imposed weather-related ground stops shortly after 11:20 a.m. at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and before 11:30 a.m. at William P. Hobby Airport on July 13, 2026. The ground stop at George Bush Intercontinental continued until 12:45 p.m., while William P. Hobby’s stop lasted until 1:00 p.m. Average flight delays rose to approximately 45 minutes at George Bush Intercontinental and 49 minutes at William P. Hobby during these periods.
Heavy rainfall and severe storms were caused by a combination of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and a stalled northern front affecting Southeast Texas. The Weather
Prediction Center assigned a level 2 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall over the region on July 13 and 14, 2026.
Widespread street flooding was reported around Southeast Texas due to the storms, significantly impacting ground transportation. FlightAware recorded 54 flight disruptions at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, ranking it third nationally for delays and cancellations on that day. William P. Hobby Airport experienced 24 flight disruptions, placing it within the national top ten. Local weather authorities extended flood threat alerts through July 14, 2026, amid expectations of continued heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service forecasted the heaviest thunderstorm activity
to occur from late morning through early evening on July 13. “Greatest coverage of (thunderstorm) activity is expected during late morning through early evening hours,” the agency stated. A temporary reduction in storm intensity was anticipated late Monday evening, followed by another round of storms on Tuesday morning. “A lull in activity is anticipated for Monday night with another round of activity set for Tuesday,” the National Weather Service added. Forecasted rainfall totals were projected to remain between 1 and 3 inches, with localized areas possibly receiving up to 5 inches due to repeated storm training over the same locations.
