The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed two ground stops at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on November 12, 2026, due to dense fog that sharply reduced runway visibility. The first ground stop occurred before 11 a.m. Pacific Time, followed by a second stop starting at 10:12 a.m., initially scheduled to last until 11:30 a.m. and later extended through 1 p.m. Visibility along the Bay Area shoreline dropped to just over one-tenth of a mile, forcing multiple aircraft to abort landings and execute go-arounds.
FlightAware recorded 187 delayed flights and three cancellations at SFO on November 12, 2026, with average arrival
delays of approximately 63 minutes. Due to the low-visibility conditions, airport operations were restricted intermittently to aircraft equipped for Category II and III instrument approaches. A ground-delay program was also implemented after a brief improvement in visibility, with the FAA’s operational plan listing the delay program extending through 1:59 p.m.
The cause of the operational disruptions was dense fog and low cloud decks common along the Bay Area shoreline. Runway visibility dropped to near one-tenth of a mile in the early morning, improving to about half a mile by 9:23 a.m., but persistent low clouds continued to hinder normal airport
operations. These weather conditions regularly limit the number of aircraft able to land safely at SFO.
Passengers traveling through SFO on November 12, 2026, faced significant delays amid the FAA ground stops and ground-delay programs that disrupted arrivals and departures throughout the day. Flight cancellations also added to the impact, with three flights canceled according to FlightAware data.
Looking ahead, the National Weather Service forecasted additional fog and low clouds overnight into November 13, 2026. The FAA operational plan for that day identified reduced visibility and low ceilings as potential constraints at San Francisco International, with possible ground stops or
ground-delay programs expected after 8 a.m.
