Severe weather is any weather condition that has the potential to cause significant damage or disruption. It can include things like thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, gale, and fog. While severe weather can cause flight delays, it is not always considered an extraordinary circumstance.
Extraordinary circumstances are events that are beyond the control of the airline and could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
For example, if the delay is caused by a freak weather event, such as a volcanic ash cloud, the airline may be able to claim extraordinary circumstances and avoid paying compensation.
The interpretation of extremely bad weather conditions as extraordinary circumstances sounds reasonable. Many recent court decisions have established rigid parameters which should be looked into carefully before concluding that bad weather conditions were an “Act of God”.
Now, if any airline could operate any flight to or from the airport in the prevalent bad weather conditions, then every airline is expected to operate the flight for their passengers by taking equal measures.
It’s the airline’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the aircraft to and from by taking the weather forecast into consideration.
However, if no airline could operate any flight from the airport due to adverse weather conditions, then the compensation claims for flight disruption can be denied by the airlines.
According to EC 261/2004, the extraordinary conditions which may lead to the denial of compensation claims by airlines include poor weather conditions that bring a halt to safe operations of flights, political instability, strikes, and security constraints.
Further, if bad weather conditions cause one particular flight to be delayed it causes a domino effect on other flights. It could be possible to claim compensation for the delay of the later flight.