Topline
Flight disruptions topped 5,500 on Wednesday, with cancellations and delays spiking as the Midwest experiences severe thunderstorms while parts of the South are hit with excessive rainfall triggered by the first named tropical storm of the year.
Key Facts
A total of 5,250 flight delays were logged on FlightAware as of 7:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, with 356 cancellations.
More than half of outbound flights from Chicago O’Hare were either canceled or delayed as of Wednesday evening, with 42% of inbound flights being delayed.
Chicago is seeing wind gusts as high as 30 mph and may experience showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m. EDT, according to the National Weather Service, while a flash flood warning is in effect just south of the city.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had 179 outbound delays, while incoming delays reached 134.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has recorded nearly 150 delays of outgoing flights and 123 delays of incoming flights.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has experienced delays for 20% of its inbound and outbound flights.
What To Watch For
Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to bring heavy rain throughout Gulf Coast states over the next few days, the NWS said, noting tropical-storm-force winds are expected to continue in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. Five to 10 inches of rain is forecast for much of the Texas coast and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, in addition to western parts of Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, the NWS added.
Key Background
Though airlines do not have to provide accommodations or compensation if weather causes disruptions, the severe weather and subsequent flight disruptions have resulted in multiple airlines offering waivers for passengers who were scheduled to fly Wednesday. Delta Air Lines is allowing travelers slated to fly Wednesday or Thursday to change travel plans free of charge, while American Airlines has offered waivers to passengers scheduled to fly Wednesday. United Airlines and Southwest Airlines also provided waivers to impacted passengers.
Further Reading
Severe Weather Across Midwest And Southeast Wednesday—Airlines Issue Waivers (Forbes)