“7 Ways Bad Weather Affects Flights”

INTRODUCTION

Bad weather affects flights more than most travelers realize. From dense fog and heavy rain to thunderstorms and strong winds, several weather factors can delay or even cancel flights at the last moment. Understanding how bad weather disrupts flights helps passengers stay informed, avoid frustration, and plan smarter during the travel season.

In this guide, we break down the 7 major ways bad weather affects flights and explain why airports and airlines must follow strict safety rules during low visibility, storms, and high winds. Whether your flight is delayed due to weather or you’re trying to understand why flights get delayed in fog, this traveler-friendly guide will help you learn what really happens behind the scenes.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how weather impacts flights, what pilots and ATC consider during challenging conditions, and the steps airlines take to keep every journey safe—even when the skies are not perfect.

---

Weather Categories Affecting Flights

In Aviation Meteorology, Weather impacts are classified broadly into four operationally critical categories:

1. Visibility-Related Phenomena

(Fog, Mist, Haze, Smog, Dust storms, Rainfall)

2. Convective Phenomena

(Thunderstorms, Lightning, Microbursts, Squall-lines)

3. Wind-Related Phenomena

(Crosswinds, tailwinds, low-level wind shear)

4. Structural & Airframe Risks

(Icing, Hail, Volcanic Ash)

Each category influences different phases of flight differently — visibility affects approach and landing the most, while convective weather disrupts climb and cruise routes. Wind shear and crosswinds affect takeoff and landing safety margins, and icing impacts aircraft performance and aircraft handling.

---

1. Visibility-Related Weather (Fog, Mist, Haze)

Fog (FG)

Fog is one of the biggest disruptors at North Indian airports in winter.

• Moderate Fog: Visibility between 200–800 m → delays and longer spacing between aircraft.
• Dense Fog: Visibility below 200 m → only CAT II/III operations function; many airports get shut down, and flights are delayed/canceled.
• Smog:(Smoke+Fog): It is mainly experienced in North India,especially in Delhi-NCR.

Indian Airport Examples:

• Delhi IGI Airport faces severe dense fog every December–January, affecting 800+ flights each season.
• Lucknow, Patna, Amritsar, and Varanasi also frequently drop to zero visibility during winter, stopping runway movements.

Mist (BR)

Common during Morning/post-sunrise hours in central India.

• Visibility ranges from 1–5 km
• Aircraft operations are usually normal, but approaches become hazy.

Example:

• Airports of central India often report BR during early winter mornings.

Haze (HZ)

Caused by pollution and suspended particles.

• Visibility 2–5 km
• Affects visual cues during landing.

Example:

• Mumbai Airport frequently experiences haze due to humidity and urban pollution.

---

2. Cloud Ceiling & Low Clouds

Low clouds affect the decision height for the landing of aircraft on runways.

Low Stratus Clouds (ST)

• Cloud base below 1,500 ft.
• can be seen in the Monsoon Period (June-September).
• Can push aircraft into holding until the cloud base rises.

Example:

• Chennai Airport often sees low clouds during the monsoon, delaying landings.

Cumulonimbus (CB) Clouds

The most dangerous cloud for aviation.

• Produces Turbulence, Hail, Microbursts, and Lightning
• Can be seen in the Pre-Monsoon Season and Winters (during Western Disturbances)
• Airports may suspend arrivals due to gust fronts (strong winds)

Example:

• Kolkata Airport experiences intense CB activity during Norwesters (Kalbaisakhi).

---

3. Wind-Related Hazards (Crosswinds, Wind Shear, Microbursts)

Crosswinds

Strong winds perpendicular to the Runway can exceed aircraft limits.

Example:

• Pune and Leh Airports face frequent crosswind challenges due to terrain.

Wind Shear

Sudden change in wind speed/direction.

• Dangerous during takeoff and approach.
• Windshear warning systems alert pilots.
• IMD uses Doppler radars (IMD’s 38 DWR network), satellite data (INSAT series), and pilot reports (PIREPs) to detect shear. Thresholds include wind changes greater than 15kt over 2,000 ft horizontally or 10 kt over 200 ft vertically.

Example:

• Mumbai Airport is a known hotspot during the monsoon due to the interaction of sea-land winds.

Microbursts

Intense downdrafts are causing a rapid loss of lift.

A microburst is a small-scale, intense downdraft (typically 1–4 km in diameter) from a thunderstorm or cumulonimbus cloud that hits the ground and spreads outward in all directions, creating powerful horizontal winds

Example:

• In India, IMD data shows microbursts spike during monsoons (June–Sept), contributing to ~20% of weather-related delays/diversions at airports like Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi (DEL).

---

4. Thunderstorms & Lightning

Thunderstorms bring multiple hazards at once:

• Lightning risk → All outdoor ramp operations immediately suspended (refueling, baggage, pushback, towing)
• Heavy rainfall → reduces braking action and also reduces visibility.
• Hail → damage to engines and radomes
• Gust fronts → unstable approach
• IMD issues Aerodrome Warning.

If you are keen to learn about thunderstorms and their effects, go to this link.

Indian Scenario:

• Delhi, Nagpur, Raipur, and Bhubaneswar see frequent TS during pre-monsoon months.
• Eastern India experiences the strongest lightning density between March–May.

---

5. Precipitation (Rain, Snow, Hail)

Heavy Rain

• Reduces runway friction and visibility.
• Causes waterlogging on the apron
• Increases landing/takeoff distance

Examples:

• Mumbai often experiences monsoon downpours, causing runway closures.
• Goa Dabolim Airport frequently reports low visibility + heavy rain combos.

Snow & Freezing Conditions

India has only a few snow-affected airports.

Examples:

• Srinagar Airport sees snow, requiring runway clearing.
• Leh Airport operates in sub-zero temperatures with strict anti-icing norms.

Hailstorm

• Dangerous for aircraft skin, sensors, and radomes.
• Hail is the most destructive and least forgiving weather phenomenon for aircraft on the ground or in flight.

Example:

• Hail is rare at most Indian airports but very common during pre-monsoon (March–May) in Delhi, Jaipur, Nagpur, Lucknow, and Bhopal airports.

---

6. Temperature Extremes & Density Altitude

High Temperature (Hot & High Airports)

• Reduces lift and engine thrust(Performance of Engine Reduces)
• Aircraft may reduce payload.

Examples:

• Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Rajkot report extreme summer temperatures.
• Leh is a classic “hot and high” airport: high elevation + temperature = reduced performance margin.

Cold Temperature

• Causes frost, ice deposition on aircraft surfaces
• Needs de-icing of the Runway and Apron area.

Examples:

• Shimla and Kullu-Manali airports often face temperature inversion and frost.

---

7. Special Weather (Turbulence, Volcanic Ash, Cyclones)

Turbulence

• Clear Air Turbulence near jet streams, flows over 9 to 14 km above mean sea level.
• Jet stream winter (Delhi–Europe, Delhi–USA) Mountain wave over the Himalayas.

Cyclones

• Entire flight operations suspended
• ATC reroutes or diverts flights

Examples:

• Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Chennai frequently affected during Bay of Bengal cyclones.

Volcanic Ash

Rare in India but significant if present.

• Causes engine flame-out and visibility loss
• Flights get rerouted

---

Airport Capacity Reduction

Why Capacity Reduces ?

• Reduced ground speed: Aircraft taxi slowly due to poor visibility.

• Runway occupancy time increases: Aircraft take longer to vacate because taxiway/runway markings aren’t clearly seen.

• Increased separation minima: Radar separation increases from 3 NM to 5 NM, or more, depending on surveillance performance.

• Low-visibility taxi procedures (LVP) activated: Only a limited number of aircraft allowed on the maneuvering area at a time.

Common reasons

• Fog: Reduces landing rate due to spacing requirements
• Rain or snow: Decreases braking action; runway occupancy time increases
• Thunderstorms: Temporarily halt operations
• Crosswinds: Restrict landings to a single runway
• Icing conditions: Aircraft need de-icing, causing long queues

Tactical Flow Management

ATC implements:

• GDPs (Ground Delay Programs)
• Miles-in-trail restrictions
• Holding patterns
• Re-sequencing of flights

This is why you often see your flight delayed even when the weather at your departure city is perfectly fine — restrictions are often due to weather at the destination airport.

---

Airline Decision-Making Process

Airline operations centers (AOCs) integrate meteorological data with operational realities.

Key decision-makers

• Meteorologists
• Flight dispatchers
• Duty managers
• ATC coordination unit
• Crew scheduling team

Decisions they must take

• Should the aircraft hold, divert, or continue?
• Will the crew duty time remain legal if delays extend?
• Should passengers be boarded or wait at the gate?
• How many alternates should be planned?
• Is additional fuel required due to thunderstorms or congestion?

Operational meteorology plays a central role — especially when evaluating convective development or visibility trends using satellite, radar, and model forecasts.

---

Passenger Rights & Tips

Even though airlines aim to maintain schedules, passengers also need clear expectations.

How This Looks to Passengers

• Delays in takeoff or landing
• Holding patterns
• Diversions
• Increased taxi time
• Congested terminals

But every decision is designed with one priority:

“No compromise on safety—capacity can be reduced, but risk cannot be increased.”

Passenger rights (varies by country)

• Compensation for long delays (in some regions)
• Rebooking options
• Hotel accommodation for overnight delays
• Refund eligibility
• Free snacks/meals after certain delay thresholds

Important Conditions

1. Delay Must Be Within Airline’s Control

Free snacks/meals apply ONLY when the delay is due to airline-controlled reasons like:

• Technical snag
• Operational issues
• Crew delay
• Airline planning issues

2. No Meals in “Extraordinary Circumstances”

Airlines are not required to provide free meals when the delay is caused by:

• Bad weather
• ATC restrictions
• Political instability
• Natural disasters
• Airport closure
• Security alerts

(Basically, anything outside airline control.)

Tips to avoid weather-related headaches:

1. Fly early morning: Thunderstorms and fog are less common.
2. Check the Weather (METAR/TAF) of the source and destination: Many apps decode these for travelers.
3. Avoid tight connections during monsoon or winter.
4. During fog or storms, remain near your gate – boarding often resumes quickly.
5. Download airline apps for real-time alerts.

Aviation meteorology isn’t just for pilots — informed passengers can make smarter travel choices too.

---

Conclusion

Bad weather is an unavoidable part of aviation, but understanding how it affects airline and airport operations helps both travelers and professionals navigate disruptions more confidently. From the meteorologist analyzing radar signatures to the dispatcher planning fuel around CB clusters, every operational decision is deeply weather-driven. With better awareness, passengers can manage their expectations, and aviation professionals can refine their strategies for safe, efficient operations.