ATL Airport Faces Long Waits Amid Federal Shutdown, Severe Storms

ATLANTA, GA — People traveling through the Atlanta airport Monday were faced with long wait times at the security checkpoints due to a partial federal government shutdown and lingering impacts from severe storms, officials said.

This comes as portions of Georgia are at a Level 2 slight risk for more severe storms Monday, when a brief tornado and 60 mph wind gusts are possible from 6 p.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in an 8:15 a.m. update, said staff was working "through residual impacts from Friday's ground stops and ongoing staff constraints."

The limited staff at Hartsfield is due to the partial government shutdown, which is now in its 24th day.

According to the White House on Monday, airports nationwide were feeling the effects of the shutdown as employees with the Transportation Security Administration continue to work without pay for the third time in six months.

The shutdown is due to a stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, specifically for the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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“(President Donald) Trump is not handling this the best way possible, but leave the TSA workers out of it," Atlanta resident Trey Mon Bivins told WANF-TV.

Aside from staffing problems, Hartsfield-Jackson officials also cited ground stops initiated during Friday's severe storm pattern, which is forecast to continue Monday, for long wait times.

As of around 1:30 p.m. Monday, the fluctuating wait time for the main domestic checkpoint was 21 minutes. Wait times at the north and lower north checkpoints were 25 and 24 minutes, respectively.

Guests were waiting for 2 minutes in the pre-check line.

Travelers flying internationally had a 5-minute wait at the main checkpoint.

With more severe storms forecast for Monday evening, it was not immediately clear if travel conditions will worsen.

The National Weather Service's Peachtree City office predicted quarter-size hail and up to 60 mph wind gusts in western Georgia. A spin-up tornado may also be on the horizon.

The storms could continue at least through Thursday night before returning Sunday.

Here is the National Weather Service's early Monday afternoon forecast for metro Atlanta:

This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Thursday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 a.m., then showers likely. High near 62. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Thursday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 49.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.

Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 54.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.