In addition to the strain of the U.S. government shutdown’s effect on air traffic controllers, hazardous weather is having an additional impact on airports in the New York City area Thursday, Oct. 30.

A handful of arriving and departing flights at Westchester County Airport (HPN) were noted to be delayed as of noon, Thursday. Current conditions in the area included showers and a chance for between 1 to 2 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. The area was also under a coastal flood advisory from the NWS, with up to a foot of floodwaters above ground level expected in low-lying areas near the waterfront.

At LaGuardia Airport in Queens, harsh conditions were causing flight disruptions, according to the travel hub’s X account. “Check with your airline to determine the status of your flight,” the airport posted.

As of 11:45 a.m., a National Weather Service forecast for the area saw a 100% chance for precipitation, which included showers and possible thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Thursday. “New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible,” the forecast reads.

Near JFK International Airport, the NWS issued a coastal flood advisory, in effect from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.

“One to two feet of inundation above ground level expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline,” the advisory reads, noting that “Some roads and low lying properties including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience minor flooding.”

Local weather: Coastal flood advisory in effect for southern Westchester, southern CT. See the forecast

What is the top cause of flight delays?

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, weather is one of the top causes of flight delays.

The FAA says that weather-related delays are most frequently-reported out of New York City-area travel hubs, namely Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens. Weather delays at NYC airports are most common during the winter.

Which New York City airport has more delayed flights?

According to data from the Air Travel Consumer Report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in June, one New York City-area airport ranked higher for percentage of on-time arrivals and departures:

Westchester County Airport (HPN): 82.1% on-time arrivals, 85.8% on-time departures

John F. Kennedy (JFK): 81.3% on-time arrivals, 84.7% on-time departures

LaGuardia (LGA): 80.7% on-time arrivals, 84.1% on-time departures

Newark (EWR): 68.7% on-time arrivals, 76.6% on-time departures

Why weather delays your flight

Inclement weather can cause a number of headaches for travelers, some dangerous. Several scenarios, including changes in wind speed, strong thunderstorms or hail, can contribute to delays.

According to the blog AirAdvisor, wind speed can play a role in whether or not weather delays a flight. Sudden, drastic changes in wind gust direction and speed, called wind shear, can contribute to turbulence.

Turbulence, defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as an irregular motion of the air, can be so severe, it can injure passengers or damage aircraft.

Hail, which can occur during a thunderstorm, can damage the plane’s engine and other parts of the craft, including the outer surface.

Lightning is not as big an issue as it once was, thanks to modern engineering, AirAdvisor says. However, a lightning strike can damage aircraft systems and prompt delays.

If a storm is near an airport, airlines will work with air traffic control and other teams to determine whether a flight should be delayed.

How to check if your flight is delayed by NYC weather

If you’re flying out of a New York City-area airport, there are a variety of ways to check if weather has delayed your flight.

First, you can check the airport’s flight tracker page. For links to specific airports, check below:

Contributing: lohud’s Alexandra Rivera

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: How to check flight delays at JFK, LGA, HPN and EWR airports in NYC