San Francisco International Airport (SFO) became a scene of travel chaos on Monday as nearly half of all flights experienced delays, creating a perfect storm of disruptions just as the massive Dreamforce conference kicked off.

The airport’s challenges stemmed from a combination of intense stormy weather and the ongoing government shutdown’s impact on air traffic control. According to flight-tracking data, 434 flights were delayed, with United Airlines experiencing 142 delays and Southwest Airlines seeing schedule disruptions on two-thirds of its flights.

The timing couldn’t have been more challenging, with approximately 45,000 to 50,000 conference attendees arriving in San Francisco, many of them international travelers attending the Salesforce event. While Monday’s travel experience was fraught with complications, Tuesday morning showed significant improvement, with only 28 flight delays and a single cancellation.

Weather forecasts suggest San Francisco might experience a few scattered showers on Tuesday, but the outlook improves for Thursday and Friday when many Dreamforce participants will be heading home. Fortunately for travelers, the most severe weather appears to be subsiding.

In an interesting side note, SFO has taken a stand against playing a controversial political video at its facilities, maintaining a policy of avoiding political messaging. This decision comes amid ongoing discussions about airport communication standards.

Travelers and conference attendees are advised to continue monitoring their flight statuses and stay prepared for potential minor disruptions as the week progresses. The combination of conference travel and unpredictable weather continues to test the resilience of San Francisco’s transportation infrastructure.