Dense fog and low cloud ceilings disrupted flight operations at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Monday, November 9, 2026, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose repeated ground stops and traffic restrictions.
By approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, 187 flights had been delayed and three cancelled, according to FlightAware figures reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The disruption affected passengers travelling through the Bay Area and flights heading to San Francisco from other parts of the United States.
FAA Issues Two Ground Stops at San Francisco Airport
The FAA introduced its first ground stop at SFO at approximately 7:56 a.m. The restriction was scheduled to remain in place until 9:15 a.m., after which a ground-delay programme was introduced as conditions briefly improved.
However, the improvement did not last. A second ground stop began at approximately 10:12 a.m., with the restriction initially scheduled to continue until 11:30 a.m.
These measures were introduced because low visibility and low cloud ceilings reduced the airport's capacity to handle arriving aircraft safely.
A ground stop does not mean that an airport has closed. It is a temporary air traffic control measure that holds selected flights at their departure airports to manage traffic arriving at the affected destination.
187 Flights Delayed and Three Cancelled
The disruption had already affected a significant number of services by late morning.
- 187 flights: Reported delayed by approximately 10:30 a.m.
- 3 flights: Reported cancelled.
- About 63 minutes: Average arrival delay reported in an FAA update at that stage.
The figures represent an early snapshot of the disruption and should not be treated as the final totals for the day. Individual flight delays varied according to their routes and operational circumstances.
Passengers travelling to San Francisco could also experience delays before departure, even when weather conditions at their origin airports were normal.
Visibility Falls to Around 0.13 Mile
The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for San Francisco and parts of the San Francisco Bay shoreline.
Visibility at San Francisco International Airport fell to approximately 0.13 mile around 8:00 a.m. Conditions improved later in the morning, but low cloud ceilings continued to affect flight operations.
When visibility is reduced, aircraft may need greater separation during approaches and landings. These safety procedures can lower the number of arrivals an airport can handle per hour, creating delays across the wider flight schedule.
Disruption Extends Beyond the Airport
The fog also affected ground transport around San Francisco Bay. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District warned commuters about possible delays to Golden Gate Ferry services because of the weather conditions.
The combination of airport restrictions and transport disruption created additional difficulties for travellers moving between San Francisco and surrounding communities.
What Passengers Should Know
Passengers flying to or from San Francisco International Airport should check their flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport.
Travellers connecting through SFO should also allow additional time, as delays affecting incoming aircraft can disrupt later departures and connecting itineraries.
Even after a ground stop is lifted, delays may continue while airlines reorganise aircraft and crew schedules and work through the backlog.
FAA Restrictions Highlight the Impact of Coastal Fog
The November 9 disruption demonstrates how coastal fog and low cloud ceilings can affect operations at major US airports.
Although San Francisco International Airport remained operational, reduced visibility forced air traffic controllers to limit the flow of arriving aircraft. The resulting restrictions affected flights across the wider US network.
Update – November 9, 2026: The figures in this article reflect reports available by approximately 10:30 a.m. local time. The 187 delays and three cancellations were preliminary figures, not the final totals for the day.
Sources:
- San Francisco Chronicle – Flights to SFO Halted as Dense Fog Cuts Visibility
- FAA – Air Traffic Control Operations Plan
- FAA – Daily Air Traffic Report
- National Weather Service – San Francisco Bay Area