Severe thunderstorms disrupt 3,461 US flights as Dallas-Fort Worth hit hardest

Disruption overview

Severe thunderstorms over Texas and Florida on 3 June 2026 triggered 3,461 flight disruptions across the US network after FAA ground-stops shut sections of airspace. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was hit hardest, while delays and cancellations also spread to Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty, Atlanta, San Francisco, Orlando, and other major hubs as airlines struggled to keep aircraft and crews moving. If your trip is covered by EC 261, compensation is usually unlikely because the disruption was caused by bad weather, but airlines should still provide care, rebooking or refunds, and accommodation if you're stranded overnight.

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Disruption details

Severe thunderstorms over Texas and Florida triggered widespread flight disruption across the United States on 3 June 2026, after FAA ground-stops shut sections of airspace and sent delays rippling through the network. Within hours, airlines logged 3,362 delays and 99 cancellations — 3,461 disruptions in total.

For passengers, this meant missed connections, crowded terminals, long waits, and rushed rebooking as problems spread far beyond the storm zones. Major hubs in Dallas, Chicago, Newark, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and Myrtle Beach all felt the knock-on effects.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was hit hardest after a prolonged morning ground-stop, recording 598 delays and 14 cancellations. Nearby Dallas Love Field added 158 delays and 4 cancellations, while George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston saw average ground delays reach 127 minutes.

Other major airport impacts included:

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport reported 225 delays and 7 cancellations.

• Newark Liberty International Airport logged 77 delays and 12 cancellations.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recorded 147 delays and 3 cancellations.

• San Francisco International Airport saw 169 delays and 5 cancellations.

• Orlando International Airport posted 93 delays and 5 cancellations.

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport faced rolling ground-stops, while Boston Logan International Airport dealt with heavy taxiway congestion.

Limited data also pointed to disruption at Myrtle Beach International Airport. Even where cancellation totals stayed lower, the network effect was clear. Once aircraft and crews fell out of position in Texas and Florida, delays kept building at airports in every US time zone.

Airlines across the country were affected too:

• American Airlines led the delay count with 601 delays and 4 cancellations.

• Southwest Airlines followed closely with 597 delays and 5 cancellations.

• United Airlines recorded 412 delays and 17 cancellations, the highest cancellation total among the major carriers.

• Delta Air Lines logged 228 delays and 7 cancellations.

• Alaska Airlines had 45 delays and 5 cancellations.

• Regional carriers Envoy Air and SkyWest were heavily affected, with 159 delays and 10 cancellations, and 248 delays and 4 cancellations, respectively.

That scale of disruption left thousands of travelers trying to salvage onward plans as connecting itineraries collapsed. Airlines urged customers to use their mobile apps to rebook, consider alternate airports where possible, and prepare for extended security lines and possible overnight stays.

This is a reminder of how quickly summer weather can unsettle a high-frequency domestic network. A relatively brief airspace closure in just two states was enough to snarl traffic nationwide and push airlines, airports, and the FAA into rapid response mode.

If your flight is covered by EC 261, compensation is usually unlikely when severe weather is the cause, because storms are outside the airline's control. Even so, your airline should still help if your journey is disrupted, including offering rerouting or a refund after a cancellation, food and refreshments during long waits, and accommodation if you're stranded overnight.

Although compensation is unlikely here, that doesn't mean you're without support. If your flight was delayed or canceled, you can use AirHelp's free flight checker to understand what rights may apply to your trip and what help you should expect from the airline.

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