What can cause a cancellation? Flights may be canceled due to wind, precipitation, fog or low visibility, lightning, low clouds, or storms.
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The type of weather that delays and cancels flights is called inclement weather. Inclement weather is categorized as thunderstorms, snowstorms, wind shear, icing, and fog. Any inclement weather is by far the most hazardous. This is the type of weather that causes the most cancellations and delays, not just rain.
Ultimately, it is usually perfectly safe for planes to fly in storms. Today's aircraft, especially big passenger airplanes, are designed to deal with lightning strikes, rain, and other conditions.
Call the Airline or Check Its Website OftenWhen you have an upcoming flight, you can typically get information on any potential delays or cancellations by calling the airline often or checking its website.
Planes can and do land during thunderstorms, but it all depends on the situation. Pilots will often use their judgment and experience to decide if a landing is safe or not while a storm is going on. The main risk with landing during a storm, just like with taking off, is microbursts.
In 2022, 2.7 percent of all U.S. domestic flights were canceled—the highest rates in the past decade, not counting 2020. Another 23 percent of all domestic flights were delayed, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Summary: Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) has the highest cancellation rate in the country for 2022: 5.55% - up from 1.43% in 2021. That's an increase of 286.77%. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City saw the largest increase in canceled flights – from 1471 in 2021 to 8795 in 2022 - a 497.89% jump.
The “cancellator” effectVirtually all carriers have an internal team dedicated to pouncing on the problem when Mother Nature poses a threat. One of their tools is a computer algorithm that uses national weather forecasts and air traffic control advisories to recommend which flights should get canceled.
There is no single maximum wind limit as it depends on the direction of wind and phase of flight. A crosswind above about 40mph and tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets taking off and landing.
Hail is much larger in the thunderstorm cloud than the ground, which can produce a major hazard to aircraft. Turbulence can occur above a developing thunderstorm, or in the vicinity of a thunderstorm due to the rapid velocity of the updraft. Oftentimes, severe to extreme turbulence is reported near thunderstorms.
Although passengers and crew may see a flash and hear a loud noise if lightning strikes their plane, nothing serious should happen because of the careful lightning protection engineered into the aircraft and its sensitive components. Initially, the lightning will attach to an extremity such as the nose or wing tip.