Las Vegas airport delays are back, and this time Phoenix is in it too. On Friday evening, storms had departures from Phoenix Sky Harbor running more than an hour late on average, with flights headed to Phoenix being held at their departure airports for about 40 minutes, according to the FAA. In Las Vegas, thunderstorms were slowing departures and adding about half an hour to arrivals. And the weekend could be worse: forecasters expect a surge of tropical Pacific moisture to bring heavy rain to Arizona, southern Nevada and Southern California on Saturday and Sunday, with flash flooding possible around Phoenix. If you're flying in or out for Halloween weekend, plan for a bumpy ride on the schedule.
Latest Updates
Friday, Oct. 30, 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. in Las Vegas and Phoenix): Las Vegas delays are getting longer. Departures from Harry Reid International are now averaging more than an hour late, and the delays are still growing. Phoenix is improving, with arrivals running about 25 minutes behind. Heavier rain is still forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, Oct. 30, 7:00 p.m. ET (4 p.m. in Las Vegas and Phoenix): Storms are slowing flights across the Southwest. Phoenix departures are averaging just over an hour late, and inbound flights are being held at their origin airports for about 40 minutes on average. Las Vegas departures are running 15 to 30 minutes late because of thunderstorms, and arrivals about 30 minutes late. Smaller delays are also showing up in San Diego, Ontario and Long Beach. Heavier rain is forecast from Saturday into Sunday.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:55 p.m. ET: Strong winds cut the number of planes that could land at Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport, so the FAA put it under a ground delay program until 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Flights headed to Las Vegas were held at their departure airports for an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes as of 4:45 p.m. Pacific, with some holds reportedly approaching four hours, and departures from Las Vegas ran more than an hour late.
Why Storms Slow Desert Airports
Phoenix and Las Vegas are built for sunshine, and most of the time that's exactly what they get. When storms roll through, lightning near the airport can force ground crews off the ramp, which stops planes from being loaded, fueled or pushed back from the gate. Heavy rain and gusty winds also mean controllers have to space planes further apart, so fewer flights can take off and land each hour. Wind does the same thing on its own, as Las Vegas found out on Thursday.
When an airport can't handle its normal schedule, the FAA often holds flights at their departure airports instead of letting them circle over the desert. That's why a storm in Phoenix can delay your flight from Chicago before you've even boarded. It's also why delays build through the day: every late plane and crew is late for its next flight too.
What to Expect This Weekend
Forecasters are watching a "Pineapple Express," a plume of subtropical moisture from the Pacific, expected to bring heavy rain to California and the Southwest on Saturday and Sunday. Arizona looks like the biggest rainfall target, with flash flooding possible, and showers could also reach southern Nevada. Snow is likely to stay in the mountains at first, but as colder air moves in late Sunday and Monday, snow could reach parts of Utah and Colorado, which could slow flights at Salt Lake City and Denver early next week.
That doesn't mean every flight will be late. Storm delays tend to come in bursts, often in the afternoon and evening, and early-morning flights usually have the best chance of leaving on time. Halloween weekend is also busy in Las Vegas, so a slow afternoon can quickly turn into a long evening.
If You're Flying
Check your flight in your airline's app before you leave for the airport, since your departure time may already have changed even if your flight shows on time. If you're connecting through Phoenix, Southwest and American's big hub there, look at later options now in case a delay costs you the connection. And if you can choose, the first flight of the morning is your best bet.
Weather delays don't come with compensation from US airlines, but if your flight is canceled and you decide not to travel, you're entitled to a refund. Many airlines will also rebook you on a later flight for free. One more thing to keep in mind: clocks fall back on Sunday in Las Vegas but not in Phoenix, since Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time. Starting Sunday, Las Vegas will be an hour behind Phoenix, so double-check any flight times you've written down. More on how the clock change affects your flight.
