Severe thunderstorms in the Washington, DC area on August 7, 2026, disrupted air travel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, leading to hundreds of delayed flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground delay program at Reagan National starting at 3:51 p.m. ET, aimed at managing arrivals affected by the storm.
The ground delay program at Reagan National was scheduled to remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. ET. Arrival delays averaged 41 minutes, with some flights experiencing delays as long as 151 minutes. An earlier ground stop at Reagan National was lifted, but delays
persisted due to ongoing severe weather conditions.
At Washington Dulles International Airport, a ground stop was implemented from 2:55 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. After the ground stop ended, the airport shifted to managing departure delays, which averaged approximately 45 minutes shortly before 4 p.m. Delays at Dulles continued to increase as thunderstorms impacted the area throughout the afternoon and evening.
The severe thunderstorms affecting both airports disrupted flight schedules for travelers departing and arriving in the Washington, DC region. Weather-related delays remain substantial, with officials encouraging passengers to monitor their flight status before traveling to the airports.
