Is Flying Through a Storm Safe? What Passengers Should Know
Flight disruptions can happen for lots of different reasons, but the FAA says that 75.48% of delays are due to weather, and of these thunderstorms are a leading culprit. But why do thunderstorms lead to so many delays and cancellations, especially these days when aircraft and air traffic control have the latest technology at their disposal?
We’re going to explore this question as well as the safety implications of storms, how airlines decide to cancel or delay flights, and what passengers can do to prepare for stormy weather.
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Types of Thunderstorms
You learn that your flight is delayed, but you look out the window and see only light rain. What gives? Well, not all storms are created equal and heavy rain and thunder aren’t always the most dangerous components. Wind speed and the size of the storm are both major factors used by pilots and air traffic control when trying to assess a storm’s impact on travel. Here are a few different kinds of thunderstorms and how they can create problems for flights.
Single-cell Thunderstorms
As the most basic kind of thunderstorm, these are usually short-lived and have a wind speed 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 can last longer than single-cell storms. Their wind speed can be as high as 60 mph, and they can create moderate to severe turbulence and heavy downpours that can lead to problems for aircraft arriving or departing.
Squall Lines
With strong winds in excess of 70 mph, squall lines are a long line of thunderstorms. They can cause strong turbulence and pose a significant risk for planes during landing and takeoff.
Supercell Thunderstorms
As the most severe kind of thunderstorm, supercells have wind speeds of over 100 mph that frequently become tornadoes. Because of their high winds and tendency to produce hail, these thunderstorms are extremely dangerous, and most airlines and pilots will avoid them completely by rerouting flights.
Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS)
These are huge thunderstorm clusters that can affect more than 100,000 square kilometers and last for hours. Overall, their winds aren’t as strong as other storms (around 60 mph) but their sheer size and capacity to produce dangerous weather often leads to widespread flight disruptions.
What Makes Storms Dangerous for Flights
Wind speed plays an enormous role in determining if a storm is too dangerous to fly in, but other factors also come into play. Wind shear, for example, can create all sorts of problems for planes because it creates a sudden and drastic change in the direction and speed of a wind gust which also contributes to turbulence.
Another turbulence-producing characteristic of storms are downdrafts and microbursts. These are downward winds that can cause the aircraft to suddenly lose altitude and can be very dangerous to planes attempting to land. The wind speed for microbursts can sometimes be as high as 100 mph, and they usually come 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 eye, especially in the higher altitudes. In July 2024, for example, around 40 passengers were injured when their Air Europa flight to Uruguay encountered severe turbulence and was forced to land in Brazil.
Lightning strikes aren’t nearly as much of a problem to aircraft as they once were, thanks to modern engineering. Still, lightning can damage aircraft systems that can necessitate maintenance checks leading to some delays and cancelled flights.
Hail can be a common feature of thunderstorms. It’s problematic because when flying through it, hail can damage the plane’s engine and the outer surface. Unfortunately, these events are becoming more and more commonplace because of climate change that makes storms more frequent and intense.
Can You Fly Through Storms Safely?
With all the potential dangers, you might be wondering if it’s ever safe to fly through a storm. Well, thanks to modern engineering practices and techniques, commercial planes are better able to handle thunderstorms.
Not only that, but all commercial aircraft are required to meet the safety requirements of the FAA or CAA (in the UK). Plus, many aircraft today are outfitted with highly sophisticated Doppler weather radar systems that give pilots a better way to find and avoid storms rather than fly through them.
But when they’re unavoidable, storms can be navigated with advanced radar technology that helps pilots find a safe path with potentially less turbulence and lighter precipitation. They also communicate with air traffic control to determine if it’s better to attempt flying above or below the storm rather than flying through the center with the strongest up and downdrafts, hail, and lightning.
So yes, generally speaking it is safe to fly in a thunderstorm, but airlines, pilots, and air traffic control will do everything possible to avoid it as winds, hail, and lightning can be erratic and hard to predict.
How Airlines Decide to Delay and Cancel Flights
When a storm system is in the vicinity of an airport, airlines will work with air traffic control and other teams to make a decision on whether to delay or cancel a flight. They first consider their basic safety thresholds for the maximum wind speed and visibility. Of course if a storm’s qualities exceed their maximum thresholds, then the flight will be delayed or cancelled.
Next, the airline will collaborate with flight dispatchers, meteorologists and pilots to make safety assessments to ensure the flight is safe for both passengers and crew. If the storm is fast-moving, they may decide that a delay is best, but sometimes a flight will be cancelled if the storm poses too great a safety risk.
Planes already in flight will work closely with air traffic control on how to best reroute around the storm cell or how to approach for landing. Depending on the runway conditions, visibility, and ground crew safety, a flight may be diverted to another airport if they’re running low on fuel, or it may have to circle until landing conditions improve. Both situations could lead to significant delays.
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Which Airports Have the Most Storm-Related Flight Delays?
Geographic location, traffic volume, and seasonal weather patterns all contribute to how much an airport is affected by storms. So, looking at the airports in the US, United Kingdom, and Europe, here are the ones with the highest number of flight disruptions due to storms.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Located in the southeastern part of the US, ATL sees an especially high number of storms during the spring and summer.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
This airport regularly ranks very high in weather-related flight delays and cancellations.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
During the spring season, Dallas/Fort Worth has been known to have hundreds of flight disruptions during major storms, but they are vulnerable to thunderstorms throughout the year.
FRA is one of the busiest airports in Europe and can have many flight disruptions due to heavy storms, especially during the summer months.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Thanks to its geographic location and high passenger volume, this airport is particularly prone to delays and cancellations because of storms.
During the summer months, LHR is regularly impacted by severe storms that lead to long delays and cancellations.
What Should You Do If You Fly Through a Storm?
Most importantly, listen to and trust the directions given to you by the flight crew. They really do know how to handle these kinds of situations. So, when they tell you to stay seated with your seat belts fastened, follow their instructions.
If you’re easily upset and frightened by turbulence, be sure to practice some breathing techniques that can help reduce anxiety. If you practice them before you’re in stormy weather, you’ll know exactly what to do once you start bouncing around. And don’t forget to secure all your personal belongings that may get lost during times of turbulence.
Bottom line, remember that flying is safer now than ever before, and while flying through storms might fray your nerves, bear in mind that the pilot, air traffic control and the aircraft itself are all well equipped to handle it.
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FAQs
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.
Does the Type of Thunderstorm Have an Effect?
There are a few different kinds of thunderstorms, and some are more severe than others. More severe and intense storms present bigger risks, but pilots are trained to make the right decisions and won't take off or land if the conditions are too bad.
Do Flights Get Cancelled Due to Thunderstorms?
Yes, this can happen. In fact, many flights are cancelled regularly around the world due to thunderstorms making it dangerous or impossible to take off.
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.
Will Planes Land in Thunderstorms?
It depends on the circumstances. Landing during a thunderstorm can be dangerous, due to high winds and microbursts, so pilots will usually communicate with air traffic control workers and decide on the best course of action if a storm is in the area.
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