Holiday travel chaos as ground stops and delays hit major US airports

Multiple ground stops and delays at America's busiest airports are beginning to upend the chaotic Thanksgiving travel week. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary ground stop at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston due to both equipment outages and poor weather conditions. A ground stop was also issued at Chicago Midway International Airport because of 'low ceilings,' meaning low clouds have made it harder for pilots to take off and land safely Tuesday morning.

Delays averaging around 15 minutes have been reported at nearby Chicago O'Hare International Airport for the same reason. Due to thunderstorms from a coast-to-coast weather system moving across the US, all flights departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have been delayed by an average of 30 minutes. As of 10am ET, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, America's busiest airport, has seen more than 200 flights delayed.

The travel chaos is expected to get even worse, with the FAA already warning of potential ground stops in New York and Washington this afternoon. Approximately 82 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, with Tuesday being one of the busiest days for Americans visiting family and friends this week. The FAA has revealed plans for a potential ground stop at San Francisco International Airport Tuesday morning, but no official announcement or delays have taken place at the moment.

The agency also announced preparations for ground stops at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday afternoon. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Chicago O'Hare may see ground stops starting between 1pm and 5pm ET on Tuesday, according to the FAA .

The list of potential disruptions or delays at these airports are based on FAA forecasts for problematic traffic, weather, staffing, or other operational factors. The warnings are proactive alerts to help airlines, pilots, and travelers prepare for delays, but they are not guaranteed to occur.

However, meteorologists have noted that Tuesday will be the storm's busiest day, as it spreads heavy rain, gusty winds, and some thunderstorms across a huge stretch of the US, from the Gulf Coast and Southeast to the Midwest. AccuWeather added that the worst headaches will likely cause hundreds of flight delays at major hubs like Chicago O'Hare , St Louis Lambert, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. As of 10.15am, over 1,200 flights entering or departing from the US have been delayed, according to Flight Aware.