Storms cause hundreds of flight delays and cancellations, disrupt FIFA Fan Festival in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA -- Thunderstorms in Philadelphia and across other parts of the country disrupted air travel Saturday, causing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations and forcing the closure of FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill.

According to FlightAware, more than 400 flights were delayed and more than 200 were canceled during the day.

Travelers at Philadelphia International Airport described a day of changing schedules and lengthy waits as weather affected flights to and from the city.

"We got a notification earlier today that our 5 o'clock flight was cancelled. Rebooked for 7 and now it's been delayed until about 9:30," said Kelly Dakake of Atlanta.

Other travelers said weather conditions affected flights even after departure.

"We had an 8:40 flight and it was delayed until 10:30. And then it took a while to take off and then we had a really long flight because they were dodging storms the whole way across the country," said Allison Danzig of San Francisco.

For at least one passenger, the delay proved beneficial.

"It was delayed. We were running late," said Paul Meroloa of San Francisco. "It did," he added with a laugh when asked whether the delay worked out in his favor.

The storms also affected outdoor events in Philadelphia. Fans leaving FIFA Fan Festival streamed out of the Lemon Hill venue in the rain after organizers shut down the event because of the weather.

Fans were able to watch about 45 minutes of the England-France third-place match before being asked to leave. Some said they had debated whether to attend because of the forecast.

"We actually pulled over 15 minutes into our journey debating whether we should come or not. We just decided - we looked at the weather, we were like I think we can sneak it in, so here we are," said Terri Adams of Warrington.

Despite the heat and lingering wildfire smoke, fans continued to attend the event. Some wore masks, and many said they wanted to experience the festival during its final weekend in Philadelphia.

"I thought I would just come out and see what happens and brought an umbrella just in case," said Nyla Scott of Mount Airy.

"I knew this was a once in a lifetime experience. I've been involved with volunteering with soccer and coaching, and I wanted to see what they brought to Philly," said Michele Taunton of Conshohocken.

Although the storms moved through the city quickly, FIFA Fan Festival did not reopen.

Airport officials said flight disruptions were also tied to severe weather in other regions. Officials advised travelers to check with their airlines for the latest information on flights that may be affected.