Storms create Monday headaches for Northeast fliers

Air travelers faced delays and headaches in the Northeast on Monday as a front brought storms to the region.

The weather had slowed flights at seven of the region’s (and nation's) busiest airports over the course of several hours early Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s flight delay map.

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The worst of Monday morning’s problems had been in Philadelphia, where flights were delayed by an average of more than two hours earlier in the day. Flights at Philadelphia’s airport – delay prone even in moderate weather events – were being slowed by a long line of thunderstorms, heavy rain and poor visibility moving through the region.

Also being hit with delays as of late Monday afternoon were Newark Liberty, New York JFK and Boston.  The FAA cited runway and taxiway construction for the delays in Boston, though the city also was seeing stormy weather.

Delays had diminished at New York LaGuardia, Washington Reagan National and Washington Dulles as of 4:15 p.m. ET, though the risk of off-and-on problems remained into the evening. Forecasts showed stormy weather and reduced visibility persisting into the evening.

Delays also could spread to other airports under clear skies, something of a ripple effect from the Northeast's poor weather. For example, a flight from Atlanta to Denver could become delayed or canceled if the aircraft or crew scheduled to fly it gets bogged down in Philadelphia or Washington.

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