does snow affect flights ?

[luvthemansion]

I guess if theres loads of snow it will but a friend is hoping to fly next week and it's forecast to snow :( does this normally delay flights a lot even if theres only a bit?

[Slowhand]

The airport authorities do tend to clear the runways if there is snow although obviously delays can occur when there is a heavy snow fall.
I have been stuck on the tarmac at several airports waiting while they de-iced the wings before take off to prevent the flaps from freezing.

Delays can obviously also occur when some flights are diverted to another airport when they are unable to land at their destination due to bad weather or a heavy snow fall.

[Dorothy]

A light snow may delay flights for a little while, but yes a heavy snow will cause flights to be either be delayed or cancelled. The other problem is that while there may not have snow at the airport your flight is suppose to leave from, if the city you plane is coming in from is snowbound then it can't get to where you are and the flight may be cancelled because of that too.

In the winter flight arrivals are pretty dependent on the weather around the whole county :sigh: