ATLANTA --- There were flight delays, cancellations and stranded passengers Sunday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport because of storms that also interrupted power and water service across metro Atlanta.

"We've been in delay posture all day," Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said Sunday night. "Right now arrivals into Hartsfield are being delayed 21/2 hours ... The weather has created a very difficult day at the airport."

Hundreds of passengers were stranded.

"My flight was canceled, and I was trying to get from here to Charlotte, N.C., and then get back home to Nashville, and the best they're offering me is 6:30 tomorrow morning, and that's not good," stranded passenger Tim Edminson told Fox5 TV.

Ms. Bergen said Hartsfield-Jackson normally can accommodate 120 aircraft landings every hour.

"That's down to 82 an hour right now," she said about 8:30 p.m.

She said it was mainly because space was running short on the ground to hold the aircraft.

She also said the delays were causing a "ripple effect" on the East Coast and beyond.

"Right now there's delay situations for the New York-area airports, Washington, O'Hare and some other issues out on the West Coast," Ms. Bergen said.

About 3,000 metro Atlantans lost power Sunday as heavy showers and thunderstorms moved through the area.

Homeowners and businesses in Atlanta also lost water pressure Sunday because power was knocked out at a pumping station.

Thunderstorms were expected to fall off by midnight. Overnight temperatures could dip to 70.

The forecast for today calls for highs in the upper 80s.