More than 600 flights were canceled across the New York City area Tuesday morning as the region braced for rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms. 

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at LaGuardia Airport, with average delays of about 68 minutes, through 8:30 a.m. due to the incoming thunderstorms.   

Ground stops were also issued at John F. Kennedy International Airport through 8:45 a.m., and Newark Liberty International Airport through 9:30 a.m., with delays averaging around 59 minutes and 78 minutes, respectively. 

The FAA reported the following delays and cancellations at New York-area airports, as of 8 a.m. 

LaGuardia: 55 delays and 227 cancellations 
JFK: 52 delays and 265 cancellations 
Newark: 47 delays and 141 cancellations 

The FAA had issued ground stops at the airports Monday due to staffing shortages at the New York-area air traffic control center. The stops temporarily prevented some flights from departing in an effort to reduce congestion in the air.  

The travel disruptions come as a Flood Watch remains in effect for all five boroughs through Wednesday evening.