Yes, it can be too hot to fly

There’s nothing worse than having your suitcase packed, making it through airport security and rushing to the terminal, only to find out your flight has been delayed. Or even worse, cancelled.

If you’re a pro-traveler, you know what to look for to attempt to avoid any weather-induced travel troubles: severe storms, strong winds, snow — the list goes on. 

But you may not have considered a more invisible culprit, the heat.

Why heat?

As temperatures soar into the triple digits, your flight could be grounded. And it all comes down to a simple principle.

Hot air is less dense than cool air.

So, as temperatures rise, the air density decreases, causing less lift and engine power — which are critical during takeoff.

How hot is too hot?

Well, it depends on the type of aircraft.

Smaller planes, like jets, typically can’t handle anything above 118 degrees. Meanwhile, larger commercial planes can usually fly safely up to 126 degrees. 

But, there are some caveats — the biggest one being elevation.

Airports at higher elevations, like Denver for example, already experience less dense air than those located closer to sea level. This means the heat threshold for plane troubles can be lower.

Other factors that can amplify the risk of extreme heat are the weight of the plane as well as the length of the runway.

What this means for your flight

Just because temperatures are starting to climb, doesn’t mean all hope is lost. But it could still mean some travel complications.

Airlines might try to compensate by reducing the weight of the plane — think less passengers, less baggage or even less fuel.

They also might try to shift your flight time earlier or later to avoid the hottest time of the day, which is typically 3-6 P.M.

But, if the temperatures reach a level that the pilots deem unsafe, it might just be flat out cancelled.

This happened in Phoenix in 2017 when temperatures neared 120 degrees, causing over 40 flights to be cancelled and numerous more impacted.

Heat's impact on the future of flying

We are seeing more intense and more frequent heat waves as a result of climate change, which means airports will continue to be impacted by extreme heat more than ever.

And while there’s a lot you can’t control in terms of weather travel woes, there are small things you can do to minimize your travel disruptions.

Book flights early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the hottest times of day.

And if you want to visit somewhere that is notorious for sizzling in the summer, consider going in the spring or fall instead.

Caitlin Kaiser graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with both an undergraduate and graduate degree in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences before starting her career as a digital meteorologist with weather.com.