Strong winds delay flights at Houston and Dallas airports

Travelers faced headaches as two major Texas airports saw a surge in flight cancellations and delays due to high winds.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:51pm

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Travelers faced delays and cancellations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Monday due to strong winds across the region. The airports were among the top five on the Misery Map tracking flight disruptions, with over 100 delays and dozens of cancellations reported at each location.

Why it matters

Strong winds can significantly impact airport operations, leading to widespread travel disruptions. This event highlights the vulnerability of major transportation hubs to extreme weather and the need for robust contingency planning to minimize the impact on passengers.

The details

As of Monday afternoon, both IAH and DFW ranked among the top five airports on the Misery Map, with 149 delays and 42 cancellations reported at IAH, and 102 delays and 19 cancellations at DFW. Departures at IAH were facing a ground delay due to wind, causing an average delay of about 2.5 hours. The impacts follow a brief ground stop at IAH on Sunday night due to thunderstorms.

  • On Monday afternoon, both IAH and DFW were among the top five airports on the Misery Map.
  • Around noon on Monday, 149 delays and 42 cancellations were reported at IAH, while 102 delays and 19 cancellations were reported at DFW.
  • Departures at IAH were facing a ground delay Monday due to wind, causing an average delay of about 2.5 hours.
  • A brief ground stop was reported at IAH on Sunday night due to thunderstorms.

The players

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

A major international airport serving the Houston metropolitan area.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

A major international airport serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Misery Map

A platform tracking flight delays and cancellations across major U.S. airports.

Federal Aviation Administration

The agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation in the United States.

National Weather Service

The primary source of weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the United States.

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What they’re saying

“Good morning, travelers. Here is a 4:30 am view of the general security line for Checkpoint 1. We're expecting a record-breaking volume of people — there are about 38k of you flying out today. Please arrive at least 2.5 hours prior to your flight's departure for domestic.”

— Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (Twitter)

The takeaway

This event highlights the significant impact that extreme weather can have on major transportation hubs, causing widespread disruptions for travelers. It underscores the need for airports and airlines to have robust contingency plans in place to minimize the impact of such events on passengers.