The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground stop at Denver International Airport at 4 p.m. on August 15, 2026, after thunderstorms forced officials to hold arrivals. The FAA initially expected ground delays to continue until 9:59 p.m., but the stop was cleared earlier despite severe weather conditions impacting approach routes.
FlightAware data at 4:30 p.m. showed 91 cancelled flights and 708 delayed at Denver International Airport. SkyWest Airlines reported 38 cancellations and 121 delays, while United Airlines had 34 cancellations and 265 delays. Southwest Airlines experienced 14 cancellations and 211 delays, and Frontier Airlines canceled 5 flights and delayed 49.
Flights arriving into Denver faced average delays of about two hours after the ground stop was lifted, with departures from the contiguous United States to Denver experiencing an average delay of 114 minutes during the ground stop.
Severe Weather Conditions Continue
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Front Range region valid until 9 p.m. on August 15. Forecasts included heavy rainfall with localized flash flooding risks, as meteorologist Callie Zanandrie reported rainfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches within 30 minutes in the Denver metro area. The storm system brought damaging winds and large hail, further complicating airport operations
and air traffic control.
Ongoing Impact on Passengers
Passengers at Denver International Airport faced widespread disruptions with over 700 flights delayed or canceled on August 15. The weather-related ground stop and lingering storm threats contributed to significant delays for arrivals and departures. Travelers with flights to or from Denver should anticipate continued impacts as severe weather persists through the evening along the Front Range.
