Severe thunderstorms on August 12, 2026, prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose ground stops at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), halting departures across the tri-state airports and disrupting flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
At 4:15 p.m. EDT, flight delays exceeded two hours at JFK, LGA, and Newark, with the FAA ground stop in place until 6:30 p.m. for JFK and LaGuardia and until 6:00 p.m. at Newark. Chicago O’Hare reported more than 120 canceled flights and over 400 delays. In the New York metro area, JFK
and LaGuardia together logged upwards of 100 cancellations and over 250 delayed flights. Additionally, more than 200 flights destined for LaGuardia had delays and nearly 100 cancellations. Newark and JFK combined saw over 300 flight delays as part of the weather-related disruptions.
Airline Waivers and Rebooking Policies
Major U.S. airlines responded with weather waivers to assist affected travelers. American Airlines provided change fee and fare difference waivers for passengers with tickets purchased by August 9, traveling August 11 through 13, through ORD, JFK, LGA, or EWR.
United Airlines allowed fee-free rebooking for Chicago flights departing August 11, with eligible tickets purchased by August 9, permitting
travel rescheduling between August 9 and 14 without fare difference charges. Delta Air Lines extended similar waiver coverage for New York metro airports—JFK, LGA, EWR, and HPN—for ticket holders buying before August 10, allowing ticket changes through August 13.
JetBlue enabled passengers with flights involving JFK, LGA, EWR, HPN, ISP, or BOS on August 10 and 11 to change or cancel bookings without fees or fare increases, allowing rebooking through August 15. All airlines advised travelers to manage rebooking through their apps or websites prior to airport arrival.
Scope and Cause of Disruptions
The disruptions resulted from a combination of severe thunderstorms and persistent heavy
rainfall that swept through the New York metro and Chicago areas on August 12, 2026. The FAA imposed ground stops at the tri-state airports to maintain flight safety amid intense lightning and storm activity. These weather conditions contributed to more than 930 combined flight delays and cancellations across JFK, LGA, EWR, and ORD.
