Storms Cause Ground Stop at BWI, Massive Delays at Reagan National

Air travel across the Maryland-DC region is being disrupted by severe weather on Monday afternoon.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A ground stop was issued at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) starting at 3:14 p.m. on Monday, March 16, halting departures bound for the airport as thunderstorms move through the region. Meanwhile, flights heading to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington are experiencing average delays of about 102 minutes due to strong winds impacting airport operations.

Why it matters

The disruption to air travel across the Maryland-DC region is causing significant inconvenience for passengers and airlines, with flights grounded at one major airport and delayed by over an hour at another. The severe weather conditions highlight the vulnerability of air transportation infrastructure to the impacts of extreme weather events.

The details

The ground stop at BWI is scheduled to remain in place until 4:30 p.m., though the FAA says there is a medium chance the restriction could be extended depending on storm activity. The delays at Reagan National are expected to continue through 11:59 p.m. Monday, with the slowdown affecting flights departing from airports across the United States and parts of Canada.

  • The ground stop at BWI began at 3:14 p.m. on Monday, March 16.
  • The ground stop at BWI is scheduled to remain in place until 4:30 p.m.
  • Flights heading to Reagan National are experiencing average delays of about 102 minutes, with the slowdown expected to continue through 11:59 p.m. Monday.

The players

Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)

A major airport serving the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

An airport located in Arlington, Virginia, serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

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

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What’s next

The FAA will continue to monitor the weather conditions and may extend the ground stop at BWI or adjust the delays at Reagan National as necessary.

The takeaway

The severe weather disrupting air travel in the Maryland-DC region highlights the importance of resilient transportation infrastructure and the need for proactive planning and coordination to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on critical infrastructure.