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US air travel faced another day of moderate but persistent disruptions Monday into Tuesday, with more than 4,900 commercial flights delayed and approximately 136 canceled across the national airspace system.

While no single catastrophic event triggered a nationwide meltdown, strong winds, low clouds, and scattered thunderstorms created ripple effects at key gateways from the West Coast to the Northeast and South Florida, according to real-time data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and FlightAware.

As of early Tuesday morning, roughly 4,911 flights operating within, into, or out of the United States were reporting delays, building on a pattern of spring weather volatility that has strained operations throughout April.

Officials at the FAA Command Center described the situation as manageable yet challenging, with ground delay programs and increased departure holds in place at several high-volume airports.

No broad system-wide ground stops were active, but forecasters warned that conditions could deteriorate later in the day if winds strengthen or thunderstorms develop further.

San Francisco International (SFO) Bears The Brunt

San Francisco International Airport remained the most heavily impacted hub, operating under an active FAA Ground Delay Program (GDP) with an average hold of 160 minutes due to persistent high winds.

Departing flights averaged 42 minutes late, and delays were still climbing, while arriving aircraft already airborne faced 52-minute delays on average.

Inbound flights from other cities were reporting average delays of up to two hours and 40 minutes at their origin airports.

Ongoing runway and taxiway construction at SFO compounded the wind-related slowdowns, limiting capacity during peak hours.

FlightAware’s live tracking showed SFO consistently ranking among the top airports on the national MiseryMap for the overnight and early morning window, with dozens of flights in the 40- to 60-minute delay range.

Northeast Corridor Hit By Gusty Winds

In the busy Northeast, New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) reported the longest average departure delays of any major hub, 1 hour and 19 minutes, and delays continued to increase throughout the evening.

Wind gusts and low clouds were the primary culprits, according to FAA advisories, with similar conditions affecting nearby John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (EWR) airports.

The FAA had flagged the potential for ground stops or additional delay programs at JFK and EWR after 7 p.m. EDT.

Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., also saw departures averaging 46 to 60 minutes late due to volume and wind.

At the same time, Boston Logan (BOS) experienced secondary impacts from the same weather system as it moved through the region.

South Florida And Midwest Feel The Heat

Miami International Airport (MIA) and nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) experienced departure delays of 16 to 30 minutes due to thunderstorms and convective weather.

Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) recorded average departure delays of around 26 minutes, though some evening windows saw higher spikes as traffic backed up due to East Coast constraints.

Additional minor restrictions, primarily affecting general aviation rather than commercial carriers, were in place at Las Vegas (LAS), San Diego (SAN), and John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, due to wind and temporary closures for non-scheduled traffic.

Spring Travel Season Amplifies Strain

The disruptions come amid one of the busiest periods of the year.

April 2026 has already seen multiple days with thousands of delays triggered by a mix of strong spring fronts, Easter holiday travel surges, and lingering operational challenges at congested hubs.

Earlier in the month, similar weather patterns caused spikes at Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Orlando, prompting airlines to issue limited delay waivers on select routes.

While airlines have not yet announced blanket delay waivers for today’s events, major carriers, including Delta, American, United, and Southwest, are advising passengers to check flight status frequently.

Passengers experiencing significant delays (typically three hours or more for controllable issues) may be eligible for rebooking, meal vouchers, or hotel accommodations under individual airline policies and US Department of Transportation guidelines.

What Travelers Should Do

The FAA and FlightAware recommend the following:

Check your flight status directly through your airline’s mobile app or website rather than relying solely on airport displays.
Monitor the FAA’s National Airspace System Status page (nasstatus.faa.gov) for live ground delay programs and advisories.
Use FlightAware’s Airport Delays page or MiseryMap for real-time visualizations of congestion.
Build extra buffer time into your schedule, especially for connections through SFO, LGA, or MIA.
Review your airline’s contract of carriage and the DOT’s airline customer service dashboard for compensation rights.

Conditions remain fluid.

Winds are expected to ease overnight in some regions, but new thunderstorms could develop in the Southeast later Tuesday.

This story will be updated as the FAA releases its next daily air traffic report and as real-time tracking data evolves.

Travelers with specific itineraries are encouraged to contact their airlines directly for the most accurate gate and departure information.