x
Breaking News
More () »

Making summer travel plans? Get ready for weather delays

Sudden, unpredictable storms known as derechos are the biggest threat to travel plans, often delaying or canceling flights without notice.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's early June but it's already been a nightmare travel season for millions of Americans and experts say things will only get worse this summer. 

If you're flying at any point over the next few months, there's a pretty good chance severe weather is going to impact your trip one way or another. 

Thunderstorms and sudden unpredictable storms, known as derechos, are officially the biggest threat to summer travel plans. These storms happen with little or no notice and can surprise passengers who checked the weather and expected things to be clear. 

Download the WCNC Charlotte app for the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts.

It's also common that apps like Apple Weather won't even pick them up, meaning some folks are truly blindsided when storms strike. 

We've already seen several of these storms wreak havoc on travel nationwide. Hundreds of flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled in Texas and Louisiana last month when a couple of these storms blew over major cities. 

Meteorologists say these types of storms are most common between May and July, and their sheer size can ground hundreds of flights at major airline hubs, like Charlotte Douglas International Airport. So even if the weather is clear when you're flying, the plane you're supposed to be on could be stuck at a different airport for hours. 

You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV devices, just download the WCNC+ app.

WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.  
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart 

All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.

Before You Leave, Check This Out