Low clouds triggered a ground stop for all MIA arrivals, leading to flight delays

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a “ground stop” for all arriving flights at Miami International Airport on Wednesday morning due to low clouds, leading to 17 delayed flights , according to airport officials.

The ground stop was issued at 8:30 a.m. and lifted an hour later at 9:30 a.m., said MIA spokesperson Greg Chin, who later added that 17 flights were affected.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, at least 174 flights, both incoming and outgoing, had been delayed and five flights were canceled at MIA, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking service.

The FAA cited “low ceilings” as the reason for the ground stop. In aviation terms, ceilings refer to the lowest layer of cloud cover, said George Rizzuto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.

Early Wednesday morning, cloud levels were just 200 feet above the ground, which “prevents good visibility for takeoff and landings,” Rizzuto said. Since then, ceilings have lifted to about 500 feet and are expected to continue rising, with the low clouds eventually burning off later today, Rizzuto said.

The ground stop came six days before Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, which coincides with the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship game between the University of Miami and Indiana University at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, an event expected to bring increased air traffic to South Florida.

This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 10:48 AM.