Tampa International Airport Issues Ground Stop As Tropical Storm Debby Approaches Hurricane Strength

Tampa International Airport is facing flight delays and cancelations due to Tropical Storm Debby.
Southwest Airlines was hit hardest as a ground stop was issued Sunday afternoon.
The storm is expected to strengthen into Hurricane Debby by Monday.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is already experiencing strong winds and heavy rain as Tropical Storm Debby churns off the west coast of Florida. On Sunday at around 12:30, a ground stop was reportedly issued for inbound flights at the airport.

It comes as the airport said that it expects to remain “open and operational” through the storm. More than 100 flights were already canceled by Sunday afternoon.

Four-hour delays
Severe weather in the area prompted a ground stop shortly before 12:30, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. TPA officials told Simple Flying that the pause did not affect flights originating at the airport, but rather US domestic flights inbound. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said arriving flights at TPA were delayed by an average of four and a half hours due to a “traffic management program in effect.” Officials urged passengers to check directly with their airline if they have a flight, as flight complications are expected to continue.

“TPA remains open and operational, but the effects of Tropical Storm Debby are impacting air travel across the southeastern U.S. Many flights are experiencing delays. Please check with your airline for the latest flight information.”

More than 100 canceled flights
According to FlightAware, TPA had recorded a total of 157 delays and 117 cancelations as of 13:30 on Sunday. The bulk of the complications come from Southwest Airlines, which had delayed 56 flights, representing 37% of its operation at the airport. The Dallas-based carrier canceled 32 flights, which is about 21% of its operation. American Airlines canceled 29 flights and delayed 13, representing 43% and 19% of its TPA operations, respectively. However, its wholly-owned regional subsidiary, Envoy Air, suffered greatly, canceling all six of its scheduled flights.

Spirit Airlines had only delayed three flights, but canceled 19 – equivalent to 63% of its operation. JetBlue Airways equally canceled 11 flights and delayed 11 flights. Delta was fifth on the list, with 10 cancelations and 20 delays, resulting in 13% and 26% of its operation, respectively.

From tropical storm to hurricane
Tropical Storm Debby formed in the Gulf of Mexico from a front that moved north past Cuba, according to NBC News. On Sunday morning, the center of the storm was located about 130 miles southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour (mph). It will likely register itself as Hurricane Debby as winds are forecasted to strengthen to Category 1 hurricane status before making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Monday. The National Hurricane Center reportedly said the storm poses a “danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along portions of the Gulf coast of Florida from Aripeka to Indian Pass.”

Forecasters issued a storm surge warning on Sunday morning in Tampa Bay. According to The Weather Channel, tornado warnings were also issued as wind gusts topped 50 mph near the Florida Keys.

Officials expect tropical storm conditions will begin on Sunday night.

“Hurricane conditions are expected on Monday along portions of the Florida Big Bend region where a Hurricane Warning is in effect, with tropical storm conditions beginning this evening,” the National Hurricane Center said.

Debby is the fourth named storm of the 2024 North Atlantic hurricane season. Should conditions threaten operations at TPA, the airport said it would provide necessary updates on X.

“Safety is our top priority: any changes to our status will be posted on X,” officials explained.