The Federal Aviation Administration issued two ground stops at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Monday morning, November 9, 2026, as dense fog along the Bay Area shoreline reduced runway visibility to just over one-tenth of a mile, forcing multiple aircraft to abort landings.
The first FAA ground stop was followed by a ground-delay program when visibility briefly improved to about half a mile at 9:23 a.m. However, a second ground stop began at 10:12 a.m., originally scheduled to last until 11:30 a.m. This ground stop was later extended through 1 p.m., with a subsequent ground-delay program running until 1:59
p.m. During these operational restrictions, the airport accepted only aircraft equipped with Category II and Category III instrument landing capabilities at times.
Flight Delays and Operational Impacts
FlightAware reported that 187 flights were delayed and three flights were canceled at San Francisco International on the day of the disruption. Average arrival delays were approximately 63 minutes. The dense fog and resulting low visibility led to multiple go-arounds, compelling flights to abort their approaches to SFO. These operational constraints reduced the airport’s capacity to manage arriving traffic effectively.
Weather Forecast and Regional Effects
The National Weather Service forecasted continued fog and low cloud cover overnight into Tuesday, November 10, 2026. This
persistent low visibility and cloud ceiling are expected to constrain operations at SFO further. The FAA’s operational plan for Tuesday included potential ground stops or ground-delay programs starting after 8 a.m. The prior day’s ground stops forced delays not only at San Francisco International but also on diverted and rescheduled flights affecting the wider West Coast region.
FAA Operational Timeline and Visibility Improvements
Visibility briefly improved before the second ground stop, allowing a short period of limited arrivals. However, the continuation of low ceilings and dense fog resulted in the FAA extending ground stops through early afternoon. By early morning on Tuesday, the FAA reported no
destination-specific delays at SFO, with general arrival and departure delays remaining at 15 minutes or less, signaling improved operational conditions following Monday’s disruption.
