Flights were grounded Friday, Sept. 26 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport because of severe weather, as the National Weather Service forecasted a high chance of thunderstorms.
A ground stop at Sky Harbor took effect just before 10 a.m. Friday and will remain through 11:30 a.m., with a 30% to 60% chance of the ground stop being extended, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System.
The ground stop has delayed flights by about 49 minutes on average, according to an FAA advisory.
Here’s what air travelers should know if they’re flying on Friday.
Why are flights grounded?
The FAA grounded flights at Sky Harbor because of severe weather and thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service forecasted a 50% chance of rain and thunderstorms on Friday. It stated there’s a chance of torrential rainfall with localized flooding and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.
A flood watch is in effect for metro Phoenix from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.
How many flights were delayed at Phoenix Sky Harbor?
As of 10:45 a.m. Friday, flight tracking website FlightAware recorded 124 delayed flights and one canceled flight out of Sky Harbor.
What does a ground stop mean when flying?
The FAA can order a ground stop when it’s not safe for flights to take off or land at an airport.
It can also order a ground delay, which is when flights destined for an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs, according to the FAA.
The FAA can order a ground delay or ground stop, but it does not cancel flights.
What should travelers know if they’re flying today?
During airport disruptions such as severe weather, staff at Sky Harbor encourage passengers to check the status of their flight with the airline they’re flying before arriving at the airport.
While airlines don’t yet have travel advisories for travel to and from Phoenix, airlines generally rebook passengers on the next available flight at no additional cost when a flight is canceled or delayed. Passengers can also receive a refund for the unused portion of their ticket if they choose not to travel.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Sky Harbor flights grounded with delays, cancelations