San Antonio and much of the southern United States braced for relief from a relentless late-summer heatwave as a cold front inched closer—but the promise of cooler weather was tempered by the chaos unleashed by severe storms, which grounded hundreds of flights across the country and left travelers stranded just as the busy Labor Day weekend began.
According to Texas Public Radio, Friday, August 29, 2025, was set to be the hottest day of the week in San Antonio, with temperatures expected to soar just above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This sweltering heat capped off a week that left local residents desperate for any sign of respite. The National Weather Service reported that a cold front would stall north of the Alamo City on Saturday before finally pushing through, bringing slightly cooler weather on Sunday and Monday—right in time for Labor Day celebrations. But as the front hesitated, the city found itself squeezed between hot and cold air masses, creating a pressure cooker of sorts over South Texas.
"The longer you can wait to fire up the Labor Day cookout, the better," forecasters advised, noting that back patio temperatures should finally dip to around 85 degrees by 9 p.m. on Monday. The cold front, once it arrived, was expected to bring highs closer to 90 degrees rather than the punishing triple digits that had persisted all week. While that might not sound like a dramatic plunge, for residents who had endured a string of 100-degree days, it was a much-needed break.
But the transition to cooler weather came with its own set of challenges. The forecast called for a slight chance of showers on Saturday, with up to half the area possibly receiving rain on Sunday and Labor Day. Rainfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour and gusty winds couldn’t be ruled out for some locations, raising concerns about flash flooding and outdoor plans. For many, the hope was that the showers would provide more relief than disruption.
However, the biggest disruptions weren’t just falling from the sky—they were rippling through the nation’s airports. Severe thunderstorms on Thursday, August 28, 2025, led to over 150 flight cancellations and countless delays at major hubs, including Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Chicago O’Hare, as reported by official airport sources and corroborated by flight tracking service FlightAware. American Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier, and other carriers bore the brunt of the chaos as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ground stops at both DFW and Dallas Love Field on Thursday evening, halting all operations as the storms rolled through.
By 8:30 p.m. CDT, the FAA lifted the ground stop, but the damage was done: 707 flights were delayed at DFW alone, with 116 delayed at Love Field and 61 outright cancellations at DFW. The domino effect quickly spread. Similar disruptions were reported at Phoenix Sky Harbor and Chicago O’Hare, where airlines like American and United faced mounting cancellations and delays. The ripple effect even reached international destinations, with flights to and from London and Cancun experiencing significant delays and cancellations, impacting local tourism in those hot spots.
Travelers caught in the crosshairs found themselves stranded, with limited rebooking options as airlines scrambled to accommodate the sudden backlog. According to official airport data, Friday, August 29, was no better. American Airlines cancelled dozens of flights scheduled for arrival and departure at cities across the U.S.—San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more. The cancellations hit early morning and continued through the day, affecting both domestic and international routes. Routes like Dallas to O’Hare, Austin to O’Hare, San Antonio to O’Hare, and London to Charlotte were among those hardest hit.
For those hoping to escape the heat or reunite with family for the holiday, the timing couldn’t have been worse. The travel frenzy that typically accompanies Labor Day weekend was thrown into disarray. Passengers were repeatedly urged to check their flight status and monitor updates from their airlines, as further delays and cancellations were likely with the storm system lingering over the region.
American Airlines, in particular, faced severe operational disruptions, with over 100 flight cancellations and significant delays not only in the United States but also across the UK and Mexico. Major cities like London, Cancun, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami all reported stranded passengers and limited options for rebooking. On Thursday alone, there were 129 cancellations and 831 delays attributed to the storms, according to official airline data. The impact wasn’t just felt at the airports—local economies dependent on tourism, like Cancun and London, also faced setbacks as the ripple effects of the flight chaos spread.
The FAA’s decision to issue ground stops at both Dallas/Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field was not taken lightly. Ground stops are only implemented in response to severe weather or other emergencies, and they halt all departures and arrivals at the affected airports. While the ground stop was lifted after a few hours, the backlog of delayed and cancelled flights proved stubbornly difficult to clear. Even after operations resumed, travelers reported hours-long waits, crowded terminals, and confusion as airlines struggled to rebook passengers on already full flights.
Meanwhile, back in San Antonio, residents kept a wary eye on the sky as the weekend approached. While the promise of cooler weather and a chance of rain brought some hope, the threat of gusty winds and heavy downpours meant that outdoor celebrations might need to be adjusted. For those planning Labor Day cookouts, local meteorologists suggested waiting until the evening, when temperatures would finally become more comfortable. The advice was simple: patience would pay off, both for those waiting for cooler weather and for those hoping to catch a flight out of town.
As the weekend unfolded, the interplay between weather and travel served as a stark reminder of how quickly plans can change. Whether it was the oppressive heat or the sudden storms, residents and travelers alike were forced to adapt—sometimes with little warning. For many, the hope was that the worst was behind them, and that the coming days would bring not just relief from the heat, but a return to normalcy at airports across the country.
In the end, the Labor Day weekend of 2025 in San Antonio will be remembered for its dramatic weather swings and the travel headaches they caused, but also for the resilience of those who weathered both the storm and the wait for a much-needed cool-down.