The Federal Aviation Administration enforced two consecutive ground stops at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on the morning of November 12, 2026. The initial halt to arrivals occurred before 11 a.m. Pacific Time in response to dense fog reducing runway visibility. The second ground stop began at 10:12 a.m., initially planned to end by 11:30 a.m., but was extended until 1 p.m. A ground-delay program followed the first stoppage during a brief improvement in visibility.
Flight disruptions and instrument approach restrictions
FlightAware reported 187 delayed flights and three cancellations at SFO on November 12. Average arrival delays reached approximately 63 minutes. During periods of low visibility
caused by fog, the airport accepted only aircraft equipped for Category II and Category III instrument approaches. Multiple flights performed go-arounds in response to reduced visibility conditions.
Weather conditions causing limited visibility
Runway visibility dropped to just over one-tenth of a mile due to a dense fog bank along the Bay Area shoreline. Although visibility improved to about half a mile by 9:23 a.m., persistent low cloud decks and fog continued to limit airport operations throughout the morning. The National Weather Service forecasted continued fog and low clouds overnight into November 13.
Passenger delays and operational impact
The ground stops paused arrivals at SFO, disrupting morning flight schedules across the
airport. The combination of dense fog, frequent go-arounds, and restrictions to only advanced instrument approach-equipped aircraft contributed to extended delays and cancellations. The ground-delay program operated until 1:59 p.m., further limiting arrival capacity.
FAA updates and forecast for November 13 operations
The FAA’s operational plan indicated the ground stop would continue through 1 p.m. with the ground-delay program extending to 1:59 p.m. An airport status update issued at 1:17 a.m. on November 13 noted that there were no destination-specific delays at SFO, with arrival and departure delays of 15 minutes or less prevailing. The FAA forecast for November 13 cited potential low ceilings and reduced visibility at SFO,
with the possibility of ground stops or ground-delay programs after 8 a.m.
Recurring fog impacts on San Francisco International Airport
Dense, low-visibility fog forms regularly along the Bay Area shoreline, constraining aircraft landing capacity at SFO. These weather conditions limit arrivals to aircraft capable of specialized instrument approaches, leading to ground stop programs, multiple go-arounds, and cascading operational delays that affect flight schedules beyond the airport itself.
