Hundreds of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport flights delayed: The latest updates

Hundreds of flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were delayed by an average of 74 minutes early Friday evening as rainy weather made its way through metro Phoenix. Earlier flights had been delayed by an average of 49 minutes.

A ground delay was in effect for Sky Harbor because of low clouds from the inclement weather. It was scheduled to remain in effect through 9:59 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System.

Low clouds can affect flights because they negatively impact pilots’ visibility when flying, making conditions less safe, according to the World Meteorological Association.

At about 5:15 p.m. on March 7, flight tracking website FlightAware showed 615 delayed flights and 11 canceled flights out of Sky Harbor. Here’s what travelers should know if they’re flying.

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Is Phoenix airport having delays today?

Winter storms brought rainy, cloudy weather to metro Phoenix. The National Weather Service in Phoenix predicted a 100% chance of rainfall for Friday and precipitation amounts between one-half to three-quarters of an inch.

Most of the flights delayed Friday out of Phoenix were Southwest Airlines flights. Southwest spokesman Dan Landson told The Arizona Republic that the airline’s staff is working through the weather and getting passengers to their destinations safely and as fast as possible.

What is the meaning of ground delay?

Ground delays are when flights headed to an airport experiencing adverse conditions must delay their takeoffs, according to the FAA.

The FAA can also order a ground stop, when flights cannot take off or land because it’s not safe enough to do so.

While the FAA can order a ground delay or ground stop, it does not cancel flights.

How long will my flight be delayed?

The FAA’s delay trend outlook forecasted the effects of the ground delay based on original departure times as follows:

• 11 a.m.-noon: 105 minutes

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.

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(This story has been updated with new information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport faces hundreds of flight delays. Here’s why