Buckle up, air vacationers. The skies could be unfriendly for some time.If historical past is any indication, we’re about to enter the time of 12 months with essentially the most delays attributable to excessive climate — in addition to among the busiest flying days ever recorded. The Transportation Safety Administration just lately broke a single-day document by screening shut to three million passengers, and it expects to see greater than 32 million between June 27 and July 8.July was hit hardest by excessive climate final 12 months, with 7,996 delays, based on federal knowledge. It was the worst month for these delays courting again to at the very least 2016. July was the worst month of the 12 months by that metric in six of the previous eight years.Between June and August of final 12 months, there have been almost 20,000 delays as a consequence of excessive climate. That’s greater than the variety of these delays within the six least-affected months mixed.Why delays are worst within the summerThe Division of Transportation defines excessive climate delays as these attributable to precise or forecast “important meteorological circumstances” reminiscent of a twister, blizzard or hurricane that will delay or stop the operation of a flight.Delays attributable to non-extreme climate are lumped into one other class that additionally consists of airport operations, heavy site visitors quantity and air site visitors management. Transportation Division statistics present that climate accounts for the best share of these delays — typically greater than 60 % — within the months between Might and August.Summer time thunderstorms embody “lightning that may cease airport operations, in some circumstances utterly shutting down arrivals and departures at main airports,” Robert W. Mann, a guide and former airline government, mentioned in an e mail. The dangerous climate can halt site visitors alongside busy flight corridors. He mentioned these summer season circumstances are extra doubtless and widespread than winter disruptions, making delays in the summertime extra prevalent.Kathleen Bangs, spokeswoman for the flight-tracking service FlightAware and a former airline pilot, mentioned strains of thunderstorms rolling in can drive an airport to shortly regulate operations, together with the course planes take off and land.“That doesn’t are inclined to occur within the winter,” she mentioned. “You don’t have so many fast adjustments in such a brief time frame.”Few protections for climate delaysFor summer season vacationers, the collision of storm delays and full flights can result in additional frustration. Mann identified that there would most likely be fewer empty seats to accommodate passengers whose flights have been canceled or who missed connections.“With so many individuals touring in summer season, your choices might be fairly restricted,” mentioned Katy Nastro, spokeswoman for the cheap-flight alert service Going.Additionally restricted: the tasks of airways when delays are attributable to climate. Main carriers have dedicated to taking sure actions for purchasers like providing meal vouchers and resort stays within the case of cancellations and lengthy delays which are attributable to “controllable” circumstances.“Sadly, that uncontrollable situation provides you the least quantity of rights,” Nastro mentioned.Nonetheless, whatever the cause, if a flight is canceled or delayed considerably and a passenger finally ends up not touring, they’ve the appropriate to a refund. As soon as a brand new DOT rule goes into impact later this 12 months, these refunds should be issued routinely.Find out how to keep away from flight delaysAir journey specialists say passengers ought to maintain some suggestions in thoughts for one of the best probability at clean crusing throughout stormy months.Nastro mentioned that if individuals are nonetheless planning their journey — or have the flexibility to vary an current journey — they need to take the earliest flight of the day they’ll discover. The prospect of dangerous climate is decrease, and planes are often ready on the airport, so the dangers of delay are restricted. And if one thing have been to go improper, vacationers would nonetheless have time to attempt to catch later flights.One other profit to morning flights? “You’ll virtually at all times get a smoother trip,” Bangs mentioned.Vacationers also needs to take nonstop flights at any time when doable to keep away from the prospect of disruptions throughout layovers and probably lacking connecting flights.Bangs recommends checking the Nationwide Climate Service’s nationwide forecast chart and a Federal Aviation Administration web page that reveals the standing of the nation’s airspace. If there are massive storms or delays the place you’re going, it would offer you an opportunity to make alternate preparations proactively.“It provides you that info so you possibly can form of begin seeing forward,” she mentioned. “I have a look at the nation as form of a giant chess board and you will get forward a couple of strikes by understanding what’s happening.”If you recognize earlier than heading to the airport that your flight shall be delayed, specialists recommend enjoying it secure and nonetheless exhibiting up on schedule so long as the posted delay is 2 hours or much less. For those who do need to linger at dwelling, use a flight-tracking website like FlightAware or Flightradar24 to trace your aircraft’s location and ensure you’ve signed up for airline notifications.“Be very cautious about what you select to do,” journey analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Environment Analysis Group, informed The Washington Put up final 12 months. “In the end, the airline just isn’t answerable for ensuring you’re on the aircraft. That’s as much as you. When departure time comes, that aircraft goes to depart.”Andrea Sachs contributed to this report