The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforced ground stops at LaGuardia Airport starting at 1:27 p.m. ET and at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) beginning at 2:49 p.m. ET on November 12, 2026. Concurrently, a ground delay program began at Newark Liberty International Airport at 2:37 p.m. ET amid severe thunderstorms affecting the New York metropolitan region. Flights to LaGuardia were delayed on average by 63 minutes under the delay program, while Newark’s delay program caused average inbound flight delays of 137 minutes.
Flight Delays and Cancellations at New York Area Airports
FlightAware reported significant disruption across the three airports during the afternoon of November 12. LaGuardia recorded 215
delayed flights and 10 cancellations as of 1:31 p.m. ET. Newark saw 131 delays and 6 cancellations at 2:24 p.m. ET. At JFK, 239 flights were delayed and 24 cancelled by 3:16 p.m. ET. These figures reflect the impact of the FAA’s air traffic control measures in response to extreme weather conditions.
Thunderstorms, Flooding, and Tornado Warning Affect Air Traffic
The FAA’s flight restrictions followed severe thunderstorms producing heavy rain and flash flooding across New Jersey and New York. A flood advisory was active until 1:45 p.m. ET for Newark and surrounding low-lying areas. Near JFK, located in Queens, a tornado warning coincided with the severe weather, adding
to operational challenges. The National Weather Service forecast continued rainfall across the area through November 13, increasing flood risk and potential for further disruptions.
FAA Operational Measures and Their Effects on Flights
The FAA used two different traffic management tools. Ground stops at LaGuardia and JFK prevented flights from departing their origin airports until the stops were lifted, initially expected at 3:45 p.m. ET with a 30% to 60% chance of extension. The ground delay program at Newark metered arrivals, spacing out flights to manage inbound traffic amid limited capacity. LaGuardia operated under both a ground stop and a delay program simultaneously. Newark briefly lifted its ground stop
but reissued it through at least 4:30 p.m. ET.
Passenger Impact and Ongoing Disruptions
Flight delay averages under the FAA programs were 63 minutes at LaGuardia and 137 minutes at Newark. The ground stops at JFK caused cascading delays and cancellations, contributing to over 1,000 flight delays and cancellations across northeastern U.S. airports on November 12. Travelers faced disrupted schedules and were likely to encounter continued delays on November 13 due to lingering weather and air traffic management measures.
The FAA continues to monitor weather developments and adjust traffic restrictions accordingly as the storm system progresses across the Northeast.
Weather Disruptions Impact Air Traffic Beyond New York
Thunderstorm-related restrictions at New York’s three
major airports demonstrate how weather at congested hubs affects the broader flight network. Boston Logan International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport also imposed air traffic limitations linked to the same coastal storm system, with Philadelphia under a Tornado Watch effective until 7:00 p.m. ET on November 12. These layered FAA controls at congested airports highlight the complexity of coordinating flight operations in severe weather.
