Severe thunderstorms sweeping through Central Texas on Monday caused massive travel disruptions at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), grounding flights, stranding passengers, and triggering cascading delays across the US aviation network. A total of over three hundred flights were impacted, including 261 delays and 47 cancellations, affecting major airlines like American Airlines, Envoy Air, SkyWest, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and several regional carriers.

Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Threats Spark Widespread Disruption

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Monday morning for McLennan, Falls, Hill, Limestone, and Navarro Counties. Though the warning was lifted by 10:30 a.m., meteorologists warned that the worst of the storms would develop after 5 p.m., bringing increased instability due to high temperatures in the low 90s. These conditions, combined with existing atmospheric pressure, created a high risk of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds.

The storms are part of a broader weather system expected to bring hazardous conditions across the central U.S., stretching from northeast Colorado through central Texas, and into Missouri, Kentucky, and parts of the Southeast. Flood watches were also issued for southwestern Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, and southeastern Kansas.

Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Bears the Brunt of the Disruptions

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the nation’s busiest hubs, experienced 47 total cancellations and 261 delays, grinding airline operations to a near standstill for much of the day. The breakdown by airline highlights the scale of the disruption:

• American Airlines: 38 cancellations, 145 delays
• Envoy Air: 6 cancellations, 51 delays
• SkyWest Airlines: 2 cancellations, 34 delays
• United Airlines: 0 cancellations, 3 delays
• Delta Air Lines: 0 cancellations, 5 delays
• Other carriers impacted: Frontier, Alaska Airlines, PSA Airlines, Air France, VivaAerobus, and Southern Airways Express

While American Airlines, which maintains its largest hub at DFW, absorbed the bulk of the cancellations and delays, ripple effects were felt nationwide as connecting flights were delayed and incoming aircraft were rerouted or grounded.

Extended Forecast Signals Temporary Relief

Forecasters anticipate the worst of the weather to pass by Tuesday mid-day, followed by a cold front that will usher in cooler and drier air. Near-normal temperatures are expected to return by Wednesday, bringing temporary relief to the storm-ravaged region. However, new waves of severe weather are forecast for later this week, with potential for baseball-sized hail, flash flooding, and intense tornadoes.

The National Weather Service continues to monitor multiple regions, issuing alerts for areas previously hit by recent tornado outbreaks. These include parts of Kentucky, Missouri, and Arkansas, many of which are still in recovery mode.

Broader Impact Across the US: Deaths, Damage, and Travel Disruptions

The Texas storms are part of a larger severe weather outbreak that has already left a trail of destruction across the Midwest and Southern US, resulting in at least 28 deaths, including fatalities in Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Tornadoes over the weekend ravaged communities, with winds reaching speeds of 150 mph, homes flattened, and power lines downed.

In London, Kentucky, residents rushed to salvage what remained of their homes, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. The state of Kentucky alone reported at least 19 fatalities, with hundreds of homes destroyed and thousands left without power. The situation prompted deployment of survey teams to assess the damage for federal disaster assistance.

St. Louis, Missouri, also experienced severe tornado activity. A tornado traveling from the suburb of Clayton to Forest Park left five dead and 38 injured, while over 5,000 homes were affected. Authorities condemned numerous buildings for safety and warned against unnecessary visits to the affected zones.

A tornado in Scott County, Missouri, killed two people and injured several others. Similar devastation was reported in Palo Pinto County, Texas, where a powerful tornado tore through rural communities west of Fort Worth, though only minor injuries were reported.

National Weather Service: Warnings Amid Staffing Concerns

The increase in violent storms and tornadoes has reignited concerns over staffing cuts at the National Weather Service, which some experts fear could hinder the agency’s ability to issue timely warnings. The U.S. averages 1,200 tornadoes annually, making it the most tornado-prone country in the world.

Recent research has shown that tornadoes are becoming more frequent in the southeastern U.S., rather than in the traditional “Tornado Alley” of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. With densely populated regions now increasingly at risk, timely alerts and preparation have become more critical than ever.

Airline Operations Under Strain

Airlines continue to work through operational backlogs caused by the DFW disruptions. Many aircraft were forced to remain grounded, causing a ripple effect of missed connections, gate delays, and crew scheduling issues. Ground staff and customer service teams struggled to reroute passengers, some of whom waited for hours with limited communication from airlines.

Carriers impacted include:

• American Airlines: As the largest operator at DFW, it bore the heaviest impact. Its high frequency of domestic routes magnified the effect of delays across the entire US network.
• Envoy Air: A regional carrier operating as American Eagle, faced cascading delays due to dependence on the American hub at DFW.
• SkyWest Airlines: Serving smaller regional connections, SkyWest delays and cancellations rippled into secondary markets.
• United Airlines and Delta Air Lines: Though less severely impacted at DFW, both experienced minor delays, primarily from cascading airspace congestion.

Wild Weather Continues Across the US

While Texas faced thunderstorms and flight delays, other parts of the country battled vastly different extremes. The South faced dangerous heat levels, with triple-digit temperatures forecast for South Texas, threatening daily heat records. Southern New Mexico and West Texas were placed under critical wildfire alerts due to the dry and hot conditions.

Meanwhile, parts of Idaho and western Montana braced for up to a foot of snow, highlighting the extreme variability of weather patterns affecting the country simultaneously.

Travelers Advised to Monitor Conditions

With more storms forecast across the week, travelers are urged to:

• Check real-time flight updates through airline apps and websites.
• Review airport conditions, especially for flights connecting through major hubs like DFW.
• Stay aware of weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service.
• Expect additional delays or cancellations if the storm system continues to intensify across the central U.S.

Severe thunderstorms and tornado threats in Texas have disrupted over 300 flights at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, triggering major travel chaos across the US. Airlines including American, United, and Delta were heavily impacted as cancellations and delays cascaded nationwide.

The severe weather outbreak across Texas and the broader central U.S. has caused significant travel disruption, particularly at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where 308 flights were disrupted on Monday alone. Airlines including American, Envoy, SkyWest, Delta, and United are grappling with cascading effects, while passengers face extended delays and uncertainty. As storms and tornado threats continue to unfold, authorities warn that the broader impact on the travel network could persist for days.

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