A ground delay was in effect at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Sept. 29, because of thunderstorms.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the delay that took effect around 7:30 a.m. and will remain in effect until at least 12:59 p.m.
Flights at Sky Harbor were delayed by about 37 minutes on average, according to the FAA's National Airspace System Status website.
A strong weather system moving through Arizona interacts with tropical moisture from Hurricanes Polo and Odalys, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to metro Phoenix, according to the National Weather Service. It gave a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms that could peak between 1 and 3 p.m.
Metro Phoenix is under a flood watch from now through 9 p.m. Sept. 29, according
to the weather service.
How many flights were disrupted at Sky Harbor?
Sky Harbor had 141 delayed flights as of 8 a.m. Sept. 29, but no cancellations, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
What is a ground delay?
A ground delay is when flights destined for an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs, according to the FAA.
It's related to, but different from, a ground stop, which is an air traffic procedure requiring all aircraft remain on the ground. It's frequently used when it's not safe for flights to take off or land at an airport.
While the FAA can order ground stops and ground delays at airports, it does not cancel flights. That's up to the airlines.
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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@usatodayco.com.Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: More than 100 flights delayed at Phoenix Sky Harbor with ground delay
