Flash floods on September 11, 2026, shut down the Interstate 285 westbound ramp to Interstate 85 southbound near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Floodwaters also covered roadways at Courtney Drive near Finley Drive in Clayton County and rendered a section of GA 400 near Northridge Road in Sandy Springs impassable, disrupting travel across metro Atlanta.
FAA Ground Stop and Ground Delay Program at Hartsfield-Jackson
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport during the flooding event. Initially set to end at 4:45 p.m., the ground stop was extended to 5:45 p.m. and subsequently converted into a ground delay program running through 9:59 p.m. The
disruption caused average arrival delays of 107 minutes, with some flights delayed up to 271 minutes. The ground stop grounded all flights heading to Atlanta departing from 10 major air traffic control centers across the eastern, central, and southern United States.
Rainfall Totals and Flood Warnings
Heavy rainfall totals ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 inches across Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties by 4:34 p.m. On the Interstate 20 and Villa Rica Highway corridors in Carroll and Douglas counties, rainfall amounts reached between 2.5 and 4 inches by 4:38 p.m. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings covering Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties as well
as Carroll, Douglas, Haralson, and Paulding counties. These warnings were effective until 10:30 p.m. on the same day.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Regional Impact
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest passenger hub as reported by Airports Council International World, handled 106.3 million travelers in 2025 and offered 63.1 million scheduled flight seats that year, according to OAG. The airport’s scale means disruptions like the September 11 floods cause cascading delays across multiple regional air traffic centers. Holding aircraft inbound to Atlanta across these centers intensified the ripple effects felt well beyond Georgia’s borders.
Traveler Impact and Traffic Disruptions
Departures at Hartsfield-Jackson were initially delayed about 45 minutes, with delays increasing
as the ground stop converted to a ground delay program. Road closures caused by flash floods blocked access routes, including the shut Interstate 285 westbound ramp to Interstate 85 southbound and flood-impacted GA 400 southbound near Northridge Road. These closures, along with floodwater coverage on Courtney Drive, led to traffic snarls in the metro area. Georgia Department of Transportation officials emphasized that as little as 12 inches of moving floodwater can carry vehicles and urged drivers to obey barricades.
Extreme moisture and heat index values reaching the upper 90s to low 100s fueled slow-moving thunderstorms that dumped heavy rains over
these areas for extended periods. The flooding occurred alongside a September 11 memorial service in DeKalb County, where local officials monitored severe weather conditions during the event.
