Strong winds force the FAA to limit arrivals at San Francisco International.

Weather Impact at SFO

The FAA issued a ground delay. Wind gusts hit San Francisco International Airport. Arrivals are capped at 28 hourly.

This program lasts until 6 p.m. Gusts reached 16 miles per hour. Rain and clouds also slowed traffic.

Operational Constraints

Safety is the main priority today. The FAA added a safety margin. Over 174 flights face long delays.

Only two flights were canceled today. Average delays reach 55 minutes now. Some delays may exceed two hours.

Regional Airport Status

Other Bay Area airports are better. Oakland reported only 11 flight delays. San Jose saw 19 delayed flights.

International flights are not currently affected. Domestic flights face the most impact. The FlightAware website tracks these changes.

Traffic Flow Management

Winter Storm Sierra impacts the region. Scattered showers continue in the area. Snow hits the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Airports across North America feel impact. Flights to SFO must wait elsewhere. This keeps the airport traffic safe.

Controllers manage the flow of jets. Wind direction affects runway use today. San Francisco International Airport uses specific paths.

Technical Challenges

High winds make these paths difficult. The FAA reduces the arrival rate. This prevents holding patterns in air.

Holding patterns consume too much fuel. Ground delays are much more efficient. Pilots wait at their departure gates.

This keeps the sky less crowded. Airlines coordinate with air traffic control. United and Alaska face many delays.

Passenger Information

SkyWest also manages several delayed flights. Check mobile apps for real-time data. The weather may clear by evening.

Forecasts show winds will soon drop. SFO will then return to normal. Ground delay programs are common tools.

The FAA uses them during storms. They manage airport capacity and demand. SFO often faces wind-related issues.

Capacity and Demand

The airport layout is very sensitive. Parallel runways require clear weather now. Wind forces a single runway flow.

This cuts the arrival rate deeply. Usually, SFO handles 60 arrivals hourly. Today, that rate is only 28.

This creates a large traffic backup. The FAA asks for regional cooperation. Canada flights also face these delays.

Airline Priorities

Mexico flights are not currently delayed. Airlines must prioritize their flight schedules. Some short flights may be canceled.

Longer flights usually get priority slots. Passengers should expect crowded terminal gates. Food and seating may be limited.

Staff are working to help travelers. The FAA advisory remains in effect. Check the FAA website for updates.

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