Strong winds cause flight delays at SFO

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KGO) -- Passengers flying out of the San Francisco International Airport have been facing long lines and delays all because of gusty winds.

Friday night, flights at SFO were delayed between 30 to 90 minutes at SFO because of the wind.

"We are very delayed. We were expecting to get out at 8:50," said Nichael Rothkpf, a delayed passenger.

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Rothkpf left at least an hour behind schedule.

Wind gusts pushed air traffic controllers to delay flights taking off. Forty four flights were cancelled.

Cincinnati resident Jonathan Joyce decided to watch planes instead of waiting in the terminal. "That's why I'm here, trying to kill another hour. My flight was originally set to go at 10:45, it's 11:45 now," Joyce said.

The wind also created problems in other parts of the Bay Area.

In San Mateo a tree branch snapped and knocked out power to one home. In San Francisco the southbound lane of the Great Highway was closed because of sand dunes blowing onto the asphalt. At Crissy Field, the beach was mostly barren.

The wind has chased everyone wan away from the beach, except for kite surfers.

"When you see that sand kick up, like that layer that looks like fog, I like that, but nobody else does," said Alexander Mouldovan.

Several of boarders said the wind was good, but not consistent. It was just enough to get around.

"The guys over there with these foils, they can go in lower winds, but we prefer the 20 miles an hour," said Mill Valley resident Ram Leshem

He was among the dozens taking advantage of the gusts.