Nearly 250 flights at Florida airports were delayed by about 3 p.m. Tuesday as widespread weather systems disrupted air travel across the country, according to FlightAware data reported by Florida Today.
The Federal Aviation Administration warned that afternoon thunderstorms could cause delays at Orlando International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Orlando International had the highest reported total in Florida, with 66 delayed flights. Miami International followed with 55 delays, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood reported 33 and Tampa International reported 26. Florida airports had three cancellations in the reported data: one at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and two at Miami.
Other airports with reported delays included Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers, with 15; Sarasota Bradenton International, with 13; Jacksonville International and President Donald J. Trump International, with nine each; and Orlando Sanford International, with five.
The disruption followed a difficult Monday, when at least 765 Florida flights were delayed amid storms and poor conditions along the East Coast. A stalled front had brought heavy rain to parts of Florida over the weekend and into Monday, and AccuWeather meteorologists said more flooding downpours were expected across much of the Southeast during the week.
Florida Today advised travelers to monitor their flight status early and often through their airline’s app and to enable notifications. Scott Keyes, founder of Going, told USA TODAY that passengers whose flights are canceled should use the airline app to rebook promptly because available seats can disappear quickly. Travelers who decline an alternative itinerary after a cancellation are entitled to a full refund, according to the report; the same applies to “significant” delays or changes.
