[ChrisH]

Flights can be delayed due to wind. Airplanes do have limitations on what kind of wind they can land in. I was once on a flight that was delayed over a half hour, because the headwinds were over 100mph at altitude. There were perfectly clear, blue skies but the headwinds caused the delay, because it slowed the airplane down in flight.

Weather in aviation is much more than thunderstorms and snow. I am a pilot also (not professionally) and have done studying on weather and aviation. Most people believe it is all about thunderstorms. Clear skies and a very strong headwind can cause delays. Once one flight is delayed 30 minutes, the downline flight becomes delayed, and so on. It may have been strong headwinds causing a 30 minute delay on a flight that flew from Miami to Dallas, for example, and then from Dallas to Denver the flight is delayed, because the same aircraft is used, then the flight from Denver going over to Chicago ends up delayed and people miss their connections in Chicago. Reason for the delay: Weather. Was there a cloud in the sky? No. Was there any weather in Denver or Chicago? No. Was weather still the cause of the delay? Yes. There are many examples similar to this. It isn't always about storms and snow.

Some delays, due to the air traffic system, and expecially construction such as in JFK, can cause a delay to become a cancellation. That 30 minute delay may cause the aircraft to be significantly behind in the takeoff sequence, if the flight were to still be operated. It may be very hard to get a slot. In that case, the airline may see it as better to cancel the flight, than have passengers sit on the airplane for hours waiting for takeoff, especially now that they can and will receive fines for this.

I'm not saying any of the above is what happened in the original posters situation. I am just saying that there is often times much more to it than the airline lied.