FAA Daily Air Traffic Report, August 29, 2025
Thunderstorms from South Florida through North Texas and the Front Range are the main system drivers, with wind concerns in the New York area and Las Vegas, and morning low clouds around Seattle and San Francisco. Expect potential reroutes, miles-in-trail, and program management at the busiest hubs as convection peaks mid to late afternoon. Today's FAA daily brief highlights close monitoring for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Tampa International Airport (TPA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), and Denver International Airport (DEN).
Key Points
- Why it matters: Thunderstorms and winds may trigger reroutes, ground delays, or departure holds.
- Travel impact: Florida, North Texas, Denver, and New York banks face the highest risk of schedule slippage.
- What's next: Storm coverage typically eases after sunset, but residual delays can push into late evening.
- Low ceilings lift by late morning at Seattle and San Francisco.
- Watch for pop-up runway configuration changes that reduce arrival rates.
Snapshot
Storms over the Florida peninsula, the Houston area, North Texas, and the Denver Front Range will be the day's primary constraint. New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) may see gusty winds that reduce acceptance rates during peak pushes. Morning marine layer and low ceilings around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) should improve toward late morning. Program tools on the table include required routings to skirt weather, miles-in-trail restrictions, and possible ground delay programs if storms align poorly with arrival banks. Travelers should build extra time into connections touching Florida, Texas, Denver, or the New York area.
Background
Summer convection routinely drives the national playbook. When storms block preferred arrivals, air traffic control shifts flows onto longer routes, reduces arrival spacing, or holds departures at origin until a slot opens. In Florida, sea-breeze collisions and outflow boundaries create rapid thunderstorm development by early afternoon. North Texas and the Denver Front Range often see late-day cells that disrupt tightly packed banks. Morning marine clouds along the West Coast can briefly drop ceilings below visual minima, then clear as mixing improves. On busy days, minor delays compound quickly, especially at hubs with runway construction, airline schedule banks, or large irregular-operations carryover from the previous evening.
Latest Developments
Thunderstorms target Florida and Texas hubs
Storms are likely to pulse near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Tampa International Airport (TPA), and Orlando International Airport (MCO) through the afternoon. North Texas and Houston, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), may face miles-in-trail on the arrival gates and short-notice departure holds. When cells anchor near final approach fixes, expect swaps to longer runway configurations that lower hourly acceptance. If storms persist into the evening push, watch for de-banking and rolling delays.
Wind spells periodic slowdowns in New York and Las Vegas
Gusty winds can force New York airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), to favor crosswind-tolerant runways, which often carry lower arrival rates. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) can see similar effects, especially with convective outflow in the desert basin. Surface winds also magnify taxi times when combined with runway changes, so buffers around bank peaks are prudent. If winds align unfavorably with traffic surges, expect spacing initiatives and potential minor ground delay programs.
Low ceilings lift late morning at Seattle and San Francisco
A familiar marine layer brings sub-visual ceilings early at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). As ceilings lift, departure rates recover, and arrival spacing widens, usually by late morning. If stratus lingers, operators may keep longer in-trail spacing, and departures can face small trims on release rates. Once visual conditions return, backlogs typically clear within a push or two, provided upstream weather does not reintroduce constraints.
Analysis
Today's setup favors localized, fast-moving constraints rather than a coast-to-coast meltdown. The Florida peninsula can degrade quickly once sea-breeze boundaries collide, so South Florida hubs and Orlando should be prioritized for early diversions and fuel contingencies. In Texas, scattered cells are enough to cut arrival gate throughput, which pushes holding into en-route airspace and forces tactical miles-in-trail. Denver remains sensitive to storm timing against mid-afternoon banks; a single line crossing the final approach fixes can halve the arrival rate. New York's wind theme is a classic capacity story, where a runway-change tax and lower crosswind acceptance combine to slow peak pushes. West Coast marine clouds are manageable, but they can ripple into missed connections when coupled with upstream delays. Event travel amplifies demand at certain gateways, notably Reno during Burning Man week, which adds stress to evening connections. For a deeper event lens, see our Burning Man, Reno travel advisory. For New York capacity context, our JFK lounge landscape, 2026 preview explains how added premium capacity may ease future peaks.
Final Thoughts
Build extra connection time today if your itinerary touches Florida, Texas, Denver, or the New York area. Check for required routings or ground delay programs before leaving for the airport, and keep an eye on late-day storms that can roll delays into the evening. West Coast marine clouds should clear by late morning, with backlogs resolving thereafter. Smart buffers and proactive rebooking remain the best defense, especially during late-summer convection. We will continue to refine this format so it remains your fastest read on the FAA daily brief.