Airports in Florida cancel more flights after thousands grounded due to weather

April 4 (UPI) -- More than 100 flights were canceled in Florida on Monday following thousands that were scrapped over the weekend due to severe thunderstorms in the state that produced heavy rains and lightning.

Orlando International Airport alone saw dozens of canceled flights on Monday. Dozens more were also canceled at the main airports in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, according to FlightAware.

Miami-based budget airline Spirit and JetBlue, which has a heavy presence in Fort Lauderdale, faced the most problems. Spirit canceled 27% of their flights on Monday and JetBlue 13%, according to FlightAware. The carrier also reported delays for 20% of its flights.

Flight-tracking website FlightAware said that almost 500 flights were canceled in the U.S. on Monday after a weekend that saw thousands of grounded planes. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Airline officials said that the ongoing problems stem from the severe storms on Saturday, which left carriers scrambling to accommodate passengers and crews.

"Severe weather in the Southeast and multiple air traffic control delay programs have created significant impacts on the industry," a JetBlue spokesperson told WTVJ-TV. "Today's cancellations will help us reset our operation and safely move our crews and aircraft back into position."

Cancellation returned to single digits for most other U.S. carriers and airports on Monday after thousands of flights were grounded over the weekend. FlightAware said almost 500 flights were canceled in the United States on Monday after almost 8,000 Saturday and Sunday.

Southwest Airlines pointed to technical issues as well as weather for problems on Saturday.