Severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, July 23, 2026, disrupted more than 7,000 flights across the eastern United States, including over 2,000 cancellations and more than 5,000 delays. The flight disruptions affected operations within, into, and out of the country.
Ground Stops Shut Operations at Multiple Major Airports
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground stops to limit aircraft movements at several airports. These included Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Teterboro Airport (TEB), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Westchester County Airport (HPN), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
in Canada. These measures contributed to widespread flight delays and cancellations during peak travel hours.
Tornadoes and Flood Warnings Accompany Storms
The severe weather included flood warnings and tornado watches issued across parts of the Northeast. At least two tornadoes were confirmed: one in northeast Pennsylvania and another in northern New Jersey. These events and other storm-related hazards prompted the FAA’s ground stops and increased operational challenges across affected airports in the region.
JFK Sees Lengthy Ground Delays Despite No Ground Stop
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was not subjected to an FAA ground stop but experienced an average ground delay of roughly four hours. Within the New York City metropolitan area alone, nearly
600 departing flights were canceled and more than 500 flights delayed, underscoring the storm’s significant impact on air traffic in the region.
Airlines Offer Flexible Rebooking and Refund Options
JetBlue Airways responded by allowing customers with affected flights to rebook travel through Sunday, July 26, or request refunds to their original form of payment. United Airlines waived trip change fees and fare differences for eligible customers rebooking flights departing by Thursday, July 23, for travel within July 20-23 in the same cabin and route. American Airlines communicated with impacted passengers via email and mobile app, requiring eligible travelers to rebook by Wednesday, July 24, with new travel
scheduled by Friday, July 26.
Flight Disruptions Expected to Continue as Storms Progress
FlightAware reported that flight cancellations and delays were anticipated to increase as the storms moved through the eastern United States. Airlines and airports were actively managing operations and assisting travelers as severe weather challenges persisted across the region.
