Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) operated under an FAA ground delay program on Sunday, August 16, 2026, as thunderstorms disrupted air traffic in the Washington, D.C. area. The FAA implemented the program due to thunderstorms affecting the airspace around the airport and broader regional routes.
Flight Delays and FAA Traffic Measures
Departing flights from Reagan National experienced average delays of approximately 35 minutes. Arriving flights faced airborne arrival delays generally limited to 15 minutes or less, though some encountered longer disruptions. The FAA activated weather-related traffic management measures to control air traffic flow around Washington, D.C.
These thunderstorms extended their impact to major flight routes
across the Northeast region of the United States. The FAA is monitoring the storm system’s progression east and northeast and continues to assess whether additional operational restrictions are necessary.
