Severe storms on July 13, 2026, triggered ground stops at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), with flights delayed an average of 45 minutes at IAH and 49 minutes at HOU, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The ground stop at Intercontinental began shortly after 11:20 a.m., while Hobby’s ground stop started before 11:30 a.m. Both were initially scheduled to last until early afternoon, until approximately 12:45 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.
Flight Delay Rankings at Houston Airports
FlightAware reported 54 flight delays at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, ranking it third nationally for flight disruptions on July 13. William P.
Hobby Airport recorded 24 delayed flights, placing it among the top 10 U.S. airports for delays that day. These delays reflect widespread impact on flight operations due to weather conditions.
Weather Causes and Rainfall Totals
A combination of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and a stalled northern front produced severe storms and heavy downpours across Houston and the Southeast Texas region. The National Weather Service forecast cumulative rainfall totals between 1 and 3 inches for the region, with some localized areas receiving up to 5 inches where storms repeatedly trained over the same locations.
Flood Risk and Weather Timing
The National Weather Service maintained a level 2 out
of 4 flood risk for excessive rainfall through July 14, 2026. A forecast bulletin stated, “Greatest coverage of (thunderstorm) activity is expected during late morning through early evening hours.” A lull in storm activity was predicted for Monday night, July 13, before another round of storms arrives early Tuesday morning, July 14.
Subsequent Weather and Clearing Forecast
The weather service projects that storm activity will diminish starting Wednesday, July 15, with sunny skies returning Thursday and daytime temperatures climbing to around 95 degrees by Friday, July 17.
Impact on Travelers and Airport Operations
Travelers at both George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports experienced significant flight groundings and delays on
July 13, 2026, causing disruptions across Houston’s air travel network. The grounding of flights was managed by the Federal Aviation Administration in response to flooding and hazardous weather conditions affecting runways and airport operations.
