Extreme weather conditions have affected Chicago’s two major airports, leaving aircraft grounded and causing severe delays and cancellations. The disruptions began Monday afternoon, July 27, and have continued to affect flights through to Tuesday.
Thunderstorm hits Chicago
Since Monday, the number of delayed flights has reached nearly 1,000 as torrential rain and strong winds hit Chicago. There have been over 900 flights cancelled from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and over 90 from Midway International Airport (MDW). The delay time at O’Hare has reached over an hour and 30 minutes, with Midway at 45 minutes. This has left many travellers facing lengthy wait times for their flights.
These figures appear to be growing as many safety warnings have been issued.
The thunderstorm shook Chicago’s streets yesterday, as trees were strewn across roads, blocking traffic and preventing cars from travelling. The overpour of rain saw rivers form where roads should be. The cleanup is still ongoing, and many were left without power Monday night.
Grounded aircraft
The extreme weather collided with Chicago’s airports Monday afternoon, as Federal Aviation Administration officials were forced to ground many airplanes from arriving and departing. This was to maintain the safety of airport operations, which struggled to continue in the dangerous conditions.
Officials have since lifted the ground stops, but delays and cancellations have continued as air traffic control begins to clear the lengthy backlog. Airport disruptions should continue to ease as the forecast calls for conditions to subside over the next few days.
Airlines continue to adjust to changing weather forecasts and appear to be operating as usual. It has been advised that travellers check the status and timings of their journeys for any subsequent delays or cancellations.
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