Denver flights grounded, hundreds delayed as storms hit Colorado’s Eastern Plains

All flights at Denver International Airport are grounded because of high winds, causing nearly 700 flight delays Thursday as thunderstorms and hail hit Colorado’s Eastern Plains.

Federal Aviation Administration officials ordered the DIA ground stop at 5 p.m. and extended it twice because of ongoing high winds, according to the alert. The ground stop is now set to expire at 8 p.m.

Wind gusts at the airport hit 45 mph at 5:18 p.m. and blowing dust is limiting visibility, according to the National Weather Service., and was still gusting at 29 mph just before 7 p.m.

Airlines reported 674 flight delays at the Denver airport as of 7:10 p.m., including 260 delays on Southwest, 179 on United and 138 on SkyWest, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to bring wind gusts up to 70 mph, golf ball-sized hail and the potential for tornadoes to the Eastern Plains this afternoon and evening, NWS forecasters said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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