FAA daily air traffic report, August 23, 2025
Thunderstorms around Florida and along key Gulf and Mid Atlantic corridors shape the FAA's plan for August 23, 2025. The Command Center flags possible ground stops or Ground Delay Programs at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and Denver International Airport (DEN). An Airspace Flow Program is active for Jacksonville Center, with additional routing measures and oceanic watches expected as convection evolves.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Florida, Texas, and Mid Atlantic constraints can ripple nationwide, raising misconnect risk across afternoon and evening banks.
- Travel impact: Ground stops or GDP windows are possible at MCO, TPA, IAH, HOU, LAS, SFO, DCA, ATL, and DEN through the day.
- What's next: AFP JAX active 1000 a.m. to 259 p.m. ET, with more CDRs, SWAP, and escape routes likely as storms pulse.
- Orlando departures are already metered, with rising miles in trail due to weather.
- Washington Center's no preferred routes suspension through August 30 limits filing flexibility.
Snapshot
The morning Operations Plan centers on thunderstorms impacting flows into and out of Florida, plus low ceilings at major hubs in the Rockies and along the West Coast. Terminal constraints cite winds in New York TRACON and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), low clouds at ATL, DEN, SFO, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Diego International Airport (SAN), and thunderstorms affecting MCO, TPA, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), and LAS. Planned terminal initiatives include possible ground stops or GDPs after 11:00 a.m. ET at MCO and TPA, with later watches for SFO, DEN, IAH, HOU, DCA, and ATL. On the en route side, partial reroutes are in effect from the Ohio Valley to Florida, with additional Florida escape routes probable.
Background
The FAA uses several tools to balance demand and capacity. A Ground Delay Program meters arrivals by issuing Expect Departure Clearance Times at origin, which protects final approach spacing but lengthens connection risk. Ground stops pause departures entirely when capacity drops quickly. En route, Severe Weather Avoidance Plans and Coded Departure Routes steer flows around active weather, while Airspace Flow Programs meter traffic through constrained sectors to protect downstream banks. The Aviation Weather Center's Traffic Flow Management Convective Forecast, plus Storm Prediction Center outlooks, guide these choices; today's SPC Day 1 highlights a marginal severe risk along the Front Range and central High Plains, while Florida remains convectively active. For continuity with late Friday's pattern, see our FAA evening advisory flags delays and reroutes and FAA daily air traffic report, August 22, 2025. Together, these frames show why short, tactical initiatives often expand to protect peak banks.
Latest Developments
FAA daily air traffic report: Florida storms drive programs
Florida holds the morning spotlight. Orlando International Airport (MCO) shows rising departure delays, about 30 minutes and increasing around 923 a.m. ET, tied to miles in trail for weather. Tampa International Airport (TPA) and MCO carry possible ground stop or GDP windows after 1100 a.m. ET. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Miami International Airport (MIA) are on watch for the mid afternoon, with Florida east coast route structure already published to ease demand on Jacksonville and Miami Centers. Active measures include a partial reroute from the Ohio Valley into Florida through late morning, and an MCO-specific departure constraint through the same period. Expect additional CDRs, SWAP, and escape routes to keep banks moving as cells redevelop along the peninsula.
Texas hubs and the Mountain West on watch
In Texas, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) face possible ground stops or GDPs after 200 p.m. ET, with codified departure routes or escape paths likely if storms organize near the Gulf. Denver International Airport (DEN) carries a morning ground stop watch until noon ET, plus a second window after 500 p.m. ET as ceilings and afternoon convection cycle. Low clouds linger at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Diego International Airport (SAN), while thunderstorms can intermittently slow Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) enters the risk board after 4:00 p.m. ET as Southeast storms migrate inland. Construction and runway work continue at multiple hubs, including runway and taxiway projects at IAH, HOU, Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), O'Hare International Airport (ORD), SFO, and SAN, which narrows margins when weather pops.
AFP active, oceanic and Gulf route closures possible
An Airspace Flow Program for Jacksonville sectors is active from 1000 a.m. to 259 p.m. ET to manage Florida flows, with a Miami-sector AFP also listed as probable. The plan holds open both Gulf and Atlantic routes early, yet warns of possible closures into the late evening, with Atlantic AR and Y-route restrictions possible through 1000 p.m. ET. Washington Center's no preferred routes suspension is in effect through August 30, which reduces filing flexibility between the Northeast and the Mid Atlantic. Blue Origin's NS-35 window at Van Horn runs 730 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, which can prompt brief, local airspace management if required. SpaceX cargo operations at Cape Canaveral and a Starship window at Boca Chica are slated for August 24, which may introduce short, localized route holds outside today's primary push.
Analysis
Today's plan is classic late summer. Florida storms compress departure fixes, so Command Center starts with miles in trail and targeted reroutes, then escalates if airports cannot maintain arrival rates. Because Florida flows touch so many domestic banks, even modest holds at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA), Miami International Airport (MIA), or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) can spread into the Midwest and Northeast within hours. The active Jacksonville AFP should smooth the late morning push, but it also lengthens block times, pushing risk into mid afternoon connections. In Texas, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) are sensitive to Gulf storms, so expect pressurized departure queues if escape routes are needed. Denver International Airport (DEN) and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) have diurnal thunder patterns that typically peak late day, and low clouds at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Diego International Airport (SAN) trim runway acceptance rates until ceilings lift. Add runway and taxiway work at Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and there is less slack to absorb spikes. Practical moves include earlier departures on tight connections, monitoring airline apps for EDCT changes, and planning alternates when your trip touches Florida, Texas, or the Rockies.
Final Thoughts
Expect targeted programs rather than a nationwide disruption on August 23, 2025. Florida and Texas will set the pace, with Atlanta, Denver, San Francisco, and Las Vegas in the afternoon mix. The Jacksonville AFP should moderate early congestion, but miles in trail and CDRs will nudge block times higher. If your itinerary depends on evening banks, move to earlier flights or add buffer at critical hubs. Monitor reroutes and EDCT updates, and budget for occasional oceanic or Gulf restrictions. Today's plan rewards proactive adjustments, especially for trips touching Florida flows or the central corridor spotlighted in the FAA daily air traffic report.