The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time on August 27, 2026, due to severe thunderstorms. The ground stop was expected to remain in effect through at least 10:00 a.m. and is forecasted to lead to average flight delays exceeding one hour after resumption of operations.
Delays and Cancellations at LaGuardia and JFK
LaGuardia Airport (LGA) also experienced significant disruption due to the severe weather, with a ground delay resulting in average inbound flight delays exceeding 1.5 hours as of 9:40 a.m. local time. That morning, LaGuardia reported 42 flight cancellations, representing 7% of its
scheduled flights, and 101 delays, equal to 18% of its schedule. Meanwhile, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) faced operational challenges despite having no ground stop, with 19 cancellations and 48 delays recorded.
National Flight Disruption Data
Flight tracking data from FlightAware at 9:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time showed a widespread impact across the U.S. airspace on August 27, 2026. There were 1,522 total flight delays and 172 cancellations involving flights within, into, or out of the country linked to the thunderstorms affecting the New York City area.
Several major airlines serving New York City airports issued flexible travel waivers for passengers scheduled to
fly on August 27, allowing flight changes or rebookings without additional fees or fare differences.
