The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented two consecutive ground stops at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on November 12, 2026, due to dense fog that lowered runway visibility to just over one-tenth of a mile. The first ground stop took effect before 11 a.m. Pacific Time, and the second began at 10:12 a.m., originally scheduled until 11:30 a.m., to mitigate the impact of limited visibility on flight operations. Multiple aircraft aborted their landing attempts (go-arounds) during the period.
Flight Delays and Cancellations Recorded
FlightAware reported that 187 flights experienced delays while three flights were canceled as a result of the ground stops at SFO. The
average arrival delay was approximately 63 minutes, reflecting significant operational disruption on the morning of November 12. These delays affected flights inbound and outbound from the airport, contributing to congestion across the Bay Area aviation network.
Operational Restrictions and Extended Ground Stop
Due to ongoing low-visibility conditions and a persistent low cloud deck, the FAA at times restricted SFO landings to aircraft equipped for Category II and Category III instrument approaches capable of landing in such reduced visibility. The FAA extended the second ground stop through 1 p.m. Pacific Time and followed it with a ground-delay program set to run until 1:59 p.m., coordinating aircraft arrivals
under constrained weather conditions.
Weather Conditions and Forecasts
Visibility at SFO had improved to about half a mile by 9:23 a.m., but low cloud cover continued to limit airport operations and contributed to a high frequency of go-arounds. The National Weather Service forecast issued on the evening of November 9 predicted continued fog and low clouds overnight into November 10. The FAA’s operational plan for November 10 forecast low ceilings and reduced visibility as constraints that could lead to ground stops or delay programs after 8 a.m., although airport status updates that day reported no significant destination-specific delays and general arrival and departure delays
of 15 minutes or less.
