More than 7,000 flights were affected on Tuesday, July 23, 2026, as severe thunderstorms disrupted air travel across the eastern United States. The disruptions included over 2,000 canceled flights and more than 5,000 delayed flights impacting air travel within, into, and out of the country.
FAA Ground Stops at Multiple Airports in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops at several major airports including Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) in Maryland, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in Massachusetts, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in Pennsylvania,
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia, as well as Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Canada. Although John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was not subject to a ground stop, it experienced an average ground delay of about four hours due to the severe weather.
Airline Rebooking Policies and Traveler Support
JetBlue provided affected customers the option to rebook flights or request refunds for any travel through Sunday, July 26, 2026. United Airlines waived change fees for eligible passengers who rescheduled flights departing between July 20 and July 23, 2026, offering rebooking without fees or fare differences on
United-operated flights within the original cities and cabin class. American Airlines notified passengers via email and mobile app, requiring rebooking by Wednesday, July 29, 2026, with travel to be completed by Friday, July 31, 2026.
Flight Delays and Cancellations Concentrated in New York City Area
Within the New York metropolitan area, nearly 600 departing flights were canceled on July 23, while more than 500 others faced delays. The average ground delay of about four hours at JFK compounded scheduling difficulties for passengers. Other airports in the region, including LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International, were also affected by cancellations and operational restrictions as a result of the storms and FAA ground
stops.
Flood Warnings, Tornado Watches, and Tornado Sightings
The severe weather system triggering these flight disruptions also brought flood warnings and tornado watches across parts of the Northeast. At least two tornadoes were observed on July 23 — one in northeast Pennsylvania and another in northern New Jersey. These hazardous conditions contributed to the FAA’s decision to temporarily restrict aircraft movement at affected airports to ensure safety.
