Can planes fly in thunderstorms? What passengers should know
Yes, planes can fly in thunderstorms, and they do it every day. Commercial aircraft are built and certified to handle turbulence, heavy rain, and even lightning strikes, and pilots use onboard weather radar to fly around the worst of a storm rather than through it.
What storms threaten most is your schedule. The US aviation regulator, the FAA, says weather causes about 75% of air traffic delays of more than 15 minutes, and thunderstorms are a leading culprit on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Which types of thunderstorms disrupt flights?
You learn that your flight is delayed for 3+ hours, but you look out the window and see only light rain. Storms vary enormously, and heavy rain and thunder aren't always the most dangerous components. Wind speed and the size of the storm are the factors pilots and air traffic control weigh when assessing a storm's impact on travel.
Storm type | Typical winds | Effect on flights |
| Single-cell | Below 50 mph | Brief turbulence and downdrafts, minor delays |
| Multi-cell cluster | Up to around 60 mph | Moderate to severe turbulence, delays on arrival and departure |
| Squall line | Can exceed 70 mph | Strong turbulence, hard to fly around, takeoff and landing delays |
| Supercell | Can top 100 mph | Rerouted completely, widespread delays and cancellations |
| Mesoscale convective system | Usually weaker than a supercell | Huge area, long duration, widespread disruption |
Single-cell thunderstorms
These are the most basic kind of thunderstorm, usually short-lived with winds typically below 50 mph. They aren't as severe as other kinds of storms, but they still cause turbulence and downdrafts.
Multi-cell clusters
These larger storms last longer than single-cell storms, with winds that can reach around 60 mph, and they create moderate to severe turbulence and heavy downpours that cause problems for aircraft arriving or departing.
Squall lines
A squall line is a long chain of thunderstorms with winds that can exceed 70 mph. They cause strong turbulence and pose a significant risk to planes during landing and takeoff, and because they can stretch for hundreds of miles, they are hard to fly around.
Supercell thunderstorms
Supercells are the most severe kind of thunderstorm, with winds that can top 100 mph and a tendency to produce tornadoes and hail. Pilots and airlines avoid them completely by rerouting flights.
Mesoscale convective systems (MCS)
These are huge thunderstorm clusters that can cover more than 100,000 square kilometres and last for hours. Their winds are usually weaker than a supercell's, but their sheer size and capacity to produce dangerous weather often lead to widespread flight disruptions.
What makes storms dangerous for planes?
The main hazards a thunderstorm poses to aircraft are wind shear, downdrafts and microbursts, turbulence, lightning, and hail, and most of them matter far more near the ground than at cruising altitude.
Wind shear, a sudden and drastic change in the direction and speed of the wind, can destabilise a plane at low altitude and contributes to turbulence.
Downdrafts and microbursts are another hazard. These are downward winds that can cause an aircraft to suddenly lose altitude, which makes them especially dangerous to planes attempting to land. Microburst winds can reach 100 mph, and they usually arrive with very heavy rain that reduces visibility for radar and pilots.
Turbulence during thunderstorms can be very difficult for passengers, and it is usually more intense the closer the aircraft is to the storm's core, especially at higher altitudes. In July 2024, around 40 passengers were injured when their Air Europa flight to Uruguay encountered severe turbulence and was forced to land in Brazil.
Lightning strikes look frightening but rarely cause real harm. According to the FAA, an airliner is struck by lightning on average about once a year, and modern aircraft are built to shrug it off. The metal skin of the fuselage acts like a Faraday cage, channelling the current around the outside of the cabin and discharging it through static wicks on the wings and tail, so people inside typically feel nothing more than a flash and a bang. The last US airliner accident blamed directly on lightning was Pan Am Flight 214 in 1963, when a strike ignited fuel vapour; that crash led regulators to mandate static dischargers on commercial jets, and no US airliner has been brought down by lightning since. A strike can still trigger a precautionary inspection after landing, which is where the occasional delay or cancellation comes from.
Hail is common in severe thunderstorms and can damage a plane's engines and outer surface. And as the climate warms, storms are expected to become more frequent and intense, which means more of these encounters, not fewer.
Is it safe to fly through a thunderstorm?
With all the potential dangers, you might wonder whether it's ever safe. Thanks to modern engineering, commercial planes handle thunderstorms well, and every commercial aircraft must meet the safety requirements of regulators such as the CAA in the UK, EASA in Europe, and the FAA in the US. Most airliners also carry sophisticated weather radar that lets pilots find and avoid storm cells rather than fly through them.
When a storm is unavoidable, that radar helps pilots pick a path with less turbulence and lighter precipitation, and they work with air traffic control to fly above or around the worst of it rather than through the centre, where the updrafts, downdrafts, hail, and lightning are strongest.
Pilots also keep a wide safety margin. FAA guidance (Aeronautical Information Manual 7-1-27) tells crews to avoid any thunderstorm identified as severe or giving an intense radar echo by at least 20 miles, because hail and violent turbulence can reach far beyond the visible cloud. That is why your flight might take a longer, curving route or hold in the air before landing rather than push through a cell that looks like it’s off to one side.
So yes, generally speaking, it is safe to fly in a thunderstorm, but airlines, pilots, and air traffic control will still do everything possible to avoid one, because winds, hail, and lightning are erratic and hard to predict.
Can planes take off in a thunderstorm?
Planes usually don't take off during a storm, especially if one is directly overhead, and this is where most storm delays start. When lightning is detected within about 5 miles of an airport, ground operations stop completely. Fuelling, baggage loading, boarding via outdoor stairs, and pushback are all suspended until the strikes move away, usually for at least 30 minutes after the last nearby one, because the people at risk are the ground crew, not the aircraft.
Takeoff and landing are the times when aircraft are most exposed to wind shear and microbursts, so departures will be held until the cell clears the airfield even if the rain looks light. Cruising flights, by contrast, simply route around the weather system, which is why your flight can be grounded by a storm while others pass overhead.
Can planes land in a thunderstorm?
Yes, planes can land in thunderstorms, but pilots will delay the approach, enter a holding pattern, or divert rather than land through an active storm cell. The risks near the runway are the same ones that hold departures: wind shear, microbursts, and reduced visibility in heavy rain.
Major airports monitor for exactly these conditions with wind shear alert systems and ground-based Doppler radar, and pilots receive the latest wind readings right up to touchdown. If conditions exceed the aircraft's limits, the crew goes around and waits, or lands somewhere else. A go-around feels alarming from seat 23F, but it is a routine, practised manoeuvre and a sign the system is working.
Why do thunderstorms delay flights, and who makes the decision?
When a storm system is near an airport, the airline works with air traffic control to decide whether to issue delays and cancellations. They first consider basic safety thresholds for maximum wind speed and visibility, and if the storm exceeds these limits, the flight will be held or called off completely.
Next, the airline brings in flight dispatchers, meteorologists and pilots to assess whether the flight is safe for passengers and crew. If the storm is fast-moving, a delay is usually enough, but a flight will be cancelled if the storm poses too great a risk or the schedule can't absorb the wait.
Planes already in the air work closely with air traffic control on rerouting around the storm cell or timing their approach. Depending on runway conditions, visibility, and ground crew safety, a flight may be diverted to another airport if fuel is running low, or it may circle until landing conditions improve. Both situations can lead to significant delays or a cancellation. A long delay or diversion can also cause you to miss a connecting flight.
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Which global airports have the most storm-related delays?
Geographic location, traffic volume, and seasonal weather patterns all shape how badly storms hit an airport. Among major hubs in the US, the UK, and Europe, these see the most weather disruption.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) sits in the southeastern US and sees an especially high number of storms during spring and summer.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) regularly ranks among the worst in the US for weather-related delays and cancellations, and as one of the world's busiest airports for aircraft movements, one storm over Chicago ripples across the whole network.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has seen hundreds of flight disruptions during single spring storm systems, and it is vulnerable to thunderstorms throughout the year.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is one of Europe's busiest airports and suffers storm disruption particularly in the summer months.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is prone to weather delays thanks to its exposed coastal location and high traffic volume.
Heathrow Airport (LHR) runs so close to full capacity that any bad weather, more often high winds and low visibility than summer thunderstorms, quickly turns into long delays and cancellations.
Can you get compensation for a storm delay?
Sometimes, and this is the part that confuses passengers most. Under UK261 (and EU261 for flights departing the EU), severe weather usually counts as an extraordinary circumstance, which means the airline doesn't owe cash compensation for a delay or cancellation the storm itself caused.
But your other rights never go away. On flights covered by these rules, the airline must still provide care during a long delay, meaning meals, communication, and a hotel if you're stuck overnight. If your flight is cancelled, you have the right to choose between a full refund and rerouting.
Here's the catch airlines rarely explain. If the storm cleared hours before departure but your flight was delayed because the crew or aircraft were out of position, or other airlines were flying while yours wasn't, the disruption may be down to the airline's own operations. If so, compensation of up to £520 (€600) may still apply. It costs nothing to check, and in the UK claims can go back up to 6 years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (5 years in Scotland). AirAdvisor has helped more than 450,000 passengers since 2017, and weather cases where the airline blamed the storm too broadly are among the claims we win most often.
What should you do if you fly through a storm?
Most importantly, listen to and trust the directions given by the flight crew, because they handle these situations for a living. When they tell you to stay seated with your seat belt fastened, follow their instructions.
If turbulence frightens you, practise a breathing technique before you fly, so you know exactly what to do once the bouncing starts, and secure your personal belongings before it does. Beyond that, remember that flying is safer now than ever, and while a storm might fray your nerves, the pilot, air traffic control, and the aircraft itself are all built for it. If a storm does disrupt your trip, it helps to know your air passenger rights.
Find out if you are owed compensation for a disrupted flight.Check Your Flight
Thunderstorm Flying: Myths vs Facts
Myth | Fact |
| A lightning strike will bring the plane down. | Airliners are struck about once a year and keep flying; the fuselage safely channels the charge away. |
| Pilots fly straight through storms to stay on schedule. | Crews route around, over, or hold short of storm cells, staying up to 20 miles clear of severe ones. |
| Storm turbulence can snap the wings off. | Wings are tested to flex far beyond anything a storm produces; turbulence is uncomfortable, not structurally dangerous. |
| Heavy rain is dangerous for a plane in the air. | Rain alone poses no real threat aloft; wind, hail, and wind shear are what pilots actually watch. |
Thunderstorm flight FAQs
What happens if lightning strikes a plane?
The aircraft's aluminium and composite skin conducts the charge around the outside of the fuselage and out through the tail or wingtips, so passengers rarely notice more than a flash and a bang. The plane is inspected after landing, which is why a strike sometimes causes a knock-on delay.
Do thunderstorms cause cancellations or just delays?
Usually delays. Cancellations happen when a storm parks itself over a hub airport, when crews run out of legal duty hours waiting, or when the schedule can't absorb the backlog. That last group matters, because a cancellation caused by crew displacement rather than the weather itself may qualify for compensation.
Can pilots see thunderstorms at night?
Yes, onboard weather radar detects precipitation and storm cells day and night, and pilots also receive continuous reports from air traffic control and other aircraft ahead of them on the route.
Is turbulence from a thunderstorm dangerous?
It is uncomfortable rather than dangerous for the aircraft, which is engineered to withstand far more stress than any storm inflicts. Nearly all turbulence injuries happen to people who aren't belted in, so keep your seat belt fastened whenever you're seated.
Will the airline pay for my hotel if a storm strands me overnight?
On flights covered by UK261, yes. Weather removes cash compensation, not your right to care, so the airline must provide meals, communication, and accommodation during a long overnight delay regardless of what caused it.
Can a Thunderstorm Cause a Plane to Come Down?
It's very unlikely for thunderstorms to bring planes down, and planes are able to be struck by lightning without suffering serious damages. In fact, rain, hail, and wind are more dangerous to planes than thunder and lightning.
Can Planes Fly in Heavy Rain?
Yes, modern aircraft are capable of flying in very heavy rain, and rainfall doesn't pose any notable threat to planes in the air. It’s also fine in most cases to take off and land during heavy rain.
What Time of Day Has the Most Storm Delays?
Thunderstorms most often build in the afternoon and early evening, when the day’s heat peaks, so storm-related delays tend to cluster later in the day. If your route runs through storm-prone airports in summer, an early morning departure is statistically less likely to get caught by a weather delay.
Author:
Joanna TeljeurJob/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead
Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development, specialising in consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work focuses on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.
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