Over 820 flights delayed, 65 canceled amid widespread U.S. travel disruptions

Flight cancellations and delays disrupted operations at multiple U.S. airports Thursday.

As of 9:58 a.m. EST, there were at least 820 delays into or out of the United States, according to flight tracker FlightAwareand more than 10,261 worldwide.

FlightAware.com, which tracks live flight delay and cancellation statistics each day in real-timereports another 65 U.S. flights had been canceled, and 456 worldwide.

Here’s why so many flights were disrupted across the U.S.

Why are so many flights being disrupted across the country?

Low clouds, rain and wind may delay or cancel flights in Boston (BOS), Chicago (MDW, ORD), New York (EWR, JFK, LGA), Philadelphia (PHL) and Washington, D.C. (BWI, DCA, IAD), according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA also noted that low clouds may disrupt flights in Houston (HOU, IAH) and San Francisco (SFO).

Afternoon showers and thunderstorms could also disrupt flights in Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Miami (MIA).

What should passengers do if they have a flight cancellation or delay?

If your flight is delayed or canceled, here are steps to reach your destination as quickly as possible.

Travel experts and airlines recommend the following steps if your flight is delayed or canceled.

Check your flight status regularly through your airline’s website or app.

Download your airline’s app and enable notifications for gate changes, delays and cancellations.

If your flight is canceled, rebook as soon as possible.

If you have a connecting flight, allow extra time if you’re connecting through a busy airport.

Keep essential items in your carry-on for easy access during extended delays, and review your airline’s refund and rebooking policies in case of extended delays or cancellations.

Josh Bandura, travel finance expert and co-founder of Frugal Flyershared some travel tips with Advance Local on what to do if caught in a flight delay or cancellation.

“The travelers who come out of a meltdown like this in decent shape are usually the ones who booked directly with the airline instead of through a third party, because the airline can only rebook a ticket it controls,” Bandura said.

“Status helps too, mostly by moving you up the queue. My practical advice: work the app before you join the gate line, since rebooking options tend to appear there before an agent can offer them,” he added.

“And if you’re rebooked rather than refunded, don’t treat the first option as final. There is often residual value left in the original ticket, and you have more rights than the agent has time to explain,” Bandura continued.