Travelers returning home for the holidays may be frustrated with the current SFO ground stops issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. A winter storm is expected to bring rain to the region Wednesday afternoon and evening.
At 8 a.m., the FAA declared: Ground delay at SFO “Because the ceiling is low.” Due to the solid cloud layer, arriving flights are delayed by an average of 1 hour and 38 minutes, with maximum delays of just under 5 hours. Then, at 11:24 a.m., government agencies issued a ground stop for all incoming flights due to the wind. Current wind speeds are approximately 20 miles per hour, according to information. national weather bureau. The ground stop is expected to be lifted around 12:45 p.m., with less than a 30% chance of it being extended.
Flights to SFO affected by Cloud Deck are scheduled to depart from Los Angeles, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Washington DC, New York, Houston, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, Cleveland, Denver, Oakland, Seattle, Boston, and Miami . According to Kansas City, Memphis, Indianapolis, Albuquerque, Minneapolis, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Calgary. FAA website. If you are picking up someone returning from these destinations at her SFO, it is wise to check in with them first.
“As passengers continue to travel for the holidays, the FAA is implementing transportation initiatives to ensure safety. Heavy traffic is expected today along the East Coast and in the Denver Airway Traffic Control Center airspace. Additionally, we expect low ceilings and high visibility from Boston to central Florida and San Francisco,” the FAA told SFGATE in a statement.
As of 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, there were 264 flight delays and six cancellations at the airport. According to FlightAware. Your departure flight may also be affected, so we recommend checking with your airline regarding possible schedule adjustments.
Ground delays caused by low clouds are expected to lift just before midnight Wednesday. A meteorologist with the National Weather Service told SFGATE that low ceilings are expected to remain at altitudes of about 2,500 feet for the next 24 hours.