The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport as of 9:40 a.m. local time on August 27, 2026. The ground stop was expected to last through at least 10:00 a.m., affecting scheduled flights and causing average delays exceeding one hour after the restriction is lifted.
In New York City, LaGuardia Airport experienced a ground delay due to severe weather, with flights into the airport delayed by more than 90 minutes on average. LaGuardia reported 42 cancellations, representing 7% of its total flights, and 101 delays accounting for 18%. John F. Kennedy International Airport, despite not
having a ground stop in place, faced 19 cancellations and 48 delays linked to the adverse weather conditions.
National Airspace Impact
FlightAware data timestamped 9:45 a.m. EDT on August 27, 2026, showed that the storm system disrupted national airspace broadly. There were 1,522 flight delays and 172 cancellations nationwide involving flights within, into, or out of the United States during the morning hours.
Airline Waivers and Cause
Several major airlines operating at New York airports authorized flexible travel waivers for passengers flying on August 27, 2026. These waivers allowed travelers to change or rebook flights without incurring change fees or fare differences. The FAA imposed the ground
stop at Newark to maintain flight safety amid severe thunderstorms affecting the New York metropolitan area. The weather caused cascading disruptions across Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports, contributing to widespread delays throughout the day.
