Washington, DC – Air travelers flying Wednesday should be prepared for the possibility of delays as thunderstorms and turbulence are expected to impact portions of the United States, particularly across the Northeast and Gulf Coast.
According to the NOAA National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center, the Day 3 Aviation Weather Outlook for Wednesday, July 15, through early Thursday, July 16, highlights several areas where weather could disrupt both en route flights and airport operations.
The greatest concern is across the Northeast, where moderate to severe turbulence is possible between approximately 12,000 and 25,000 feet (FL120 to FL250). Airports in the region could also experience periods of isolated moderate low-level turbulence below 800 feet, along with southwest winds reaching up to 20 knots.
Across portions of the Gulf Coast and the southern United States, scattered thunderstorms are expected to produce heavy downpours, lightning, gusty winds, and localized flight disruptions. Additional thunderstorm activity is forecast over parts of the central Plains, while storms capable of reaching flight levels up to FL390 and FL450 could create routing challenges for aircraft traveling through affected airspace.
Although widespread ground stops are not currently forecast, weather-related delays, reroutes, and occasional turbulence are possible at major airports depending on how storms develop throughout the day.
Passengers scheduled to fly Wednesday are encouraged to monitor their airline’s flight status before heading to the airport, allow extra travel time, and remain aware that departure and arrival schedules may change as conditions evolve.
The Aviation Weather Center will continue updating forecasts as newer data becomes available.
For the latest aviation weather information, visit aviationweather.gov.
