Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Experiencing Flight Disruptions due to Thunderstorms
PHOENIX – Thunderstorms caused notable flight delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Sunday morning, impacting travel plans for hundreds of passengers. A ground stop was issued, and departures experienced an average delay of 78 minutes as of 8:45 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Management.
The disruptions stem from heavy rainfall and storm activity moving thru the Phoenix metropolitan area. More than 175 flights were delayed, originating from cities including San francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, St. Louis, Houston, and locations within New Mexico. These delays are notably impactful as travelers navigate peak travel times, and the situation highlights the vulnerability of air travel to severe weather events. The FAA anticipates delays to persist until approximately 2 p.m.
The national weather Service reported 1.58 inches of rain at the airport before 9 a.m. Sunday. Weather activity was observed moving northeast through the Valley around 7 a.m., with the National Weather Service describing the thunderstorms as producing “vrey heavy” rainfall.
A ground stop at Sky Harbor was lifted at 9 a.m. Travelers are encouraged to check with their airlines for the latest flight status updates and to allow for extra travel time. Further information can be found on the FAA website (https://nasstatus.faa.gov/) and the FlightAware flight tracking website (https://www.flightaware.com/live/cancelled/today/KPHX).
