Wind- and turbulence-related aviation impacts caused by strong cold fronts crossing the Washington D.C. – New York City corridor

During the cold seasons (15 October – 15 April) of 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18, 30 strong cold fronts passed through the Washington D.C. (DC) – New York City (NYC) corridor during the late morning – late evening hours. All 30 of these strong cold fronts caused wind-related ground stops and/or ground delay programs at two or more of the following airports within the DC – NYC corridor: John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Teterboro Airport and Westchester County Airport. These strong cold fronts also generated several other significant wind- and turbulence-related impacts that affected air traffic in the DC – NYC corridor. This technical attachment identifies atmospheric and surface patterns associated with these strong cold fronts and highlights the significant wind- and turbulence-related impacts they created.