The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground stops and delay programs at New York metropolitan area airports on November 12, 2026, due to severe thunderstorms disrupting air traffic. Ground stops began at LaGuardia Airport at 1:27 p.m. Eastern Time and at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 2:49 p.m. Newark Liberty International Airport initiated a ground delay program at 2:37 p.m. LaGuardia also maintained a ground delay program starting at 1 p.m. and scheduled through 11:59 p.m.
Flight Delays and Cancellations Recorded at New York Airports
FlightAware reported 215 delayed flights and 10 cancellations at LaGuardia as of about 1:31 p.m. Newark experienced 131 delays and 6 cancellations
by approximately 2:24 p.m., while JFK had 239 delays and 24 cancellations as of 3:16 p.m. These figures reflect flight disruptions during the afternoon amid flow-control measures implemented by the FAA.
Weather Conditions Causing Flight Disruptions
The New York metropolitan area faced heavy rain and thunderstorms on November 12, prompting the FAA’s intervention. A flood advisory was active until 1:45 p.m. for Newark and surrounding areas due to minor flooding in low-lying locations. Queens, where LaGuardia is located, was not included in the advisory. The National Weather Service forecast prolonged rainfall continuing into November 13, 2026, along with possible minor coastal flooding in some parts
of the region.
FAA’s Traffic Flow Management Measures
The FAA imposed ground stops at LaGuardia and JFK airports, holding affected flights on the ground until restrictions were lifted. At the same time, ground delay programs at LaGuardia and Newark metered departures to manage arrival rates and reduce congestion. The ground stop at LaGuardia was initially expected to end by 3:45 p.m., with a 30% to 60% chance of extension, a forecast that also applied to the JFK ground stop. These interventions affected flights departing both within and outside the New York area.
Impact on Passengers and Flight Operations
Flights arriving at Newark averaged delays of 137 minutes under the ground delay
program, markedly higher than the 63-minute average delay for arrivals at LaGuardia. These layered flow-control measures disrupted schedules throughout the afternoon, with hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations across the three airports. The simultaneous use of ground stops and delay programs at LaGuardia notably compounded flight disruptions.
The FAA continues to monitor weather across the Northeast United States and may impose further air traffic restrictions as the weather system progresses over the region.
