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FAA Daily Air Traffic Report, August 18, 2025

A busy ramp below an FAA control tower as summer storms build, illustrating delays and reroutes in today's FAA Daily Air Traffic Report.
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6 min read

Low clouds in the Bay Area and widespread afternoon thunderstorms are today's big drivers. The FAA has issued scheduling delays into San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and is watching Florida, Texas, the Upper Midwest, and Chicago for possible ground stops or delay programs as storms flare. Hurricane Erin remains offshore but continues to generate dangerous surf and swells that could affect East Coast operations and cruise itineraries. Travelers should plan for pop-up delays, especially mid to late afternoon.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: Storm-driven traffic management is likely this afternoon in Florida, Texas, Denver, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
  • Travel impact: SFO is already on scheduling delays, with 30 to 45 minute holds expected around midday.
  • What's next: If storms intensify, look for ground stops or ground delay programs at Orlando, Tampa, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Denver, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
  • Airspace flow programs and reroutes are possible on key Transcon and mountain corridors.
  • Hurricane Erin keeps surf hazards high along the Eastern Seaboard, with some lingering waivers and schedule trims tied to Caribbean recovery. See our coverage in Cat-5 Hurricane Erin drives SXM, USVI cancellations.
  • Cross-border flying remains volatile due to Canada labor actions. For context, see Air Canada strike: Ottawa orders binding arbitration.

Snapshot

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is under call-for-release scheduling, with expected 30 to 45 minute departure holds from first-tier origins due to low ceilings. The FAA's morning plan highlights afternoon thunderstorms from Florida through Texas and into the Upper Midwest, which could trigger ground stops or ground delay programs at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Denver International Airport (DEN), O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Midway International Airport (MDW). Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) may see arrival-route management this evening.

Background

The FAA Daily Air Traffic Report summarizes anticipated system constraints, including ground stops, ground delay programs, airspace flow programs, and route advisories. Summer convective weather remains the primary limiter on capacity, reducing airport arrival rates and forcing miles-in-trail or reroutes. Airspace flow programs meter demand through constrained sectors, while ground delay programs hold departures to match capacity. Low stratus frequently slows San Francisco mornings, and monsoonal moisture pushes afternoon storms across the Rockies, Plains, and Gulf states. Separate from weather, infrastructure projects continue, including runway work at Teterboro Airport (TEB), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), plus taxiway construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Launch operations off California can also create temporary airspace closures. Always verify your flight status with the airline before heading to the airport.

Latest Developments

SFO scheduling delays point to a slow late morning

The Command Center has issued scheduling delays into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) tied to low ceilings. Expect 30 to 45 minute call-for-release holds from first-tier origins through the late morning into early afternoon, with gradual improvement as ceilings lift. If marine layer clouds linger longer than forecast, a short ground delay program could be used to smooth arrivals. Bay Area connections may feel downstream effects, especially tight banks to the Mountain West and Southwest.

Florida, Texas, and Upper Midwest may see ground stops or GDPs

Thunderstorms are expected to build through early afternoon across Florida and Texas and extend into the Upper Midwest. The FAA plan lists possible ground stops or ground delay programs at Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Palm Beach (PBI), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Houston Hobby (HOU), Denver (DEN), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Chicago Midway (MDW), and Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP). Route advisories are active on North Texas and Colorado flows, and additional arrival-route management is likely for Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) late day. Travelers should build connection buffers and monitor airline alerts closely.

Hurricane Erin keeps East Coast surf hazardous, minor operational ripple

Major hurricane Erin remains well offshore but continues to generate long-period swells, rip currents, and beach hazards from the Carolinas to New England. While U.S. airports are operating normally, coastal weather and residual Caribbean recovery may shape airline waivers and cruise schedule tweaks. Miami Center is coordinating hurricane-related missions over the Bahamas today, and East Coast carriers may keep flexible policies in place for select routes. Check your carrier's travel-alert page if your itinerary touches Florida or the Mid-Atlantic.

Analysis

Today's pattern fits a classic late-August playbook. Morning stratus compresses the San Francisco arrival rate until ceilings lift, then afternoon convection takes the baton across Florida, Texas, the Front Range, and the Upper Midwest. When storms blossom on top of peak demand, the Command Center typically meters traffic with miles-in-trail, reroutes around storm complexes, and, if needed, ground delay programs at hub airports. The operational plan already flags potential initiatives at Orlando, Tampa, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dallas Love Field, Houston Intercontinental, Houston Hobby, Denver, Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul. That list will expand or contract with radar trends. Erin's swell field is a traveler-facing hazard more than an air-traffic limiter, but it keeps waiver logic in play along the Eastern Seaboard and for Caribbean connections. Bottom line, the smartest move today is buffer time on connections, early rebooking if severe weather targets your hub, and tight attention to app notifications.

Final Thoughts

If you are flying into or through SFO before mid-afternoon, plan for holds. If your trip touches Florida, Texas, Denver, Chicago, or Minneapolis after lunchtime, pad connections and expect pop-up programs. East Coast beach conditions remain dangerous even with fair skies inland. As always, confirm status with your airline before heading out, and keep alerts on for gate or time changes. We will update if the FAA implements broader initiatives beyond those outlined here in the FAA Daily Air Traffic Report.

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