On Tuesday, July 23, 2026, severe thunderstorms across the eastern United States caused disruptions to more than 7,000 flights, including over 2,000 cancellations and upwards of 5,000 delays. The weather system affected key regions such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., with tornadoes confirmed in northeast Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.
Ground Stops at Major Airports Across Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed ground stop orders at multiple airports amid the severe weather. Airports affected included Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) in Maryland; Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in Massachusetts; Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey; LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
and Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York; Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in Pennsylvania; Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Virginia; and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Canada.
While John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) did not have a ground stop, it experienced an average ground delay of around four hours due to the storms. In the greater New York City metropolitan area alone, close to 600 departing flights were canceled and more than 500 suffered delays, according to data from FlightAware.
Airline Responses with Flexible Travel Options
JetBlue reported multiple waves of severe weather impacting travel across
the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The airline offered affected customers the ability to rebook trips through Sunday, July 26, or request refunds to the original payment method.
United Airlines waived change fees and fare difference charges for eligible flights departing between July 20 and July 23, 2026. Passengers could reschedule on United flights within the same cabin and cities as their original bookings.
American Airlines notified affected customers via email and mobile app. Travelers had until Wednesday, July 24, to rebook flights, with new travel required to be completed by Friday, July 26.
Weather Causes and FAA Ground Stop Orders
Heavy thunderstorms prompted flood warnings and tornado watches
across parts of the Northeast. The confirmed tornadoes in northeast Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey contributed to FAA’s decision to impose ground stops at several busy airports, restricting aircraft movement temporarily for safety.
Travel Impact and Operational Challenges
The storm system disrupted air traffic at some of the busiest hubs on the East Coast, leaving thousands of passengers facing canceled or delayed flights. Operational issues continued as airlines worked to assist travelers and update schedules.
FlightAware’s data indicates the total flight disruption count could rise with the storms ongoing at various points during the day.
