The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground stops for departures at both O’Hare and Midway airports early Thursday morning as rounds of heavy rain and storms moved through the Chicago area.
According to the FAA, the ground stop was in effect at Midway through at least 8:45 a.m. At O’Hare, the ground stop ended at 7:15 a.m., with average flight delay times of close to two hours expected throughout the day.
“Torrential downpours” were possible, the National Weather Service said, with nearly two inches of rain recorded at Midway airport as of 4:50 a.m.
The rainy conditions come as a frontal boundary remains stacked across the area, with showers and storms riding right along it.
“Morning showers and storms once again,” NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Iisha Scott said. “Sounding like a broken record here.”
Early Thursday morning, live Doppler 5 Radar showed a cluster of showers and storms producing lightning and thunder across Lee, Ogle, Kane, DeKalb and Cook counties.
According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest showers and thunderstorms were expected to be north of I-80. In Kendall, northern Will, southern DuPage, south Cook and northern Lake counties, a flood advisory was issued.
The rain was already leading to crashes across the Chicago area for the morning rush hour commute, with major delays, traffic and ponding on roads.
Showers and storms will continue through the late morning, Scott said. By about 11 a.m., conditions will dry out under mostly cloudy skies.
Friday and weekend rain
While Friday morning will remain dry, another wave of showers will move in about 5 p.m. Rain will continue overnight into Saturday, with heavy downpours and storms into the morning.
“If you’ve got Saturday morning plans, they’re not looking good at all,” Scott said. “These storms will be putting down very heavy rain, with the potential for flooding.”
Scattered rain will continue at times through the daytime hours Saturday, and then “area-wide” Saturday night and Sunday.
“Additional episodes of showers and storms are expected in the general area this weekend,” the NWS said. “Repeated downpours may lead to localized flooding.”
Temperatures
Temperatures will waver between the high and low 70s Thursday through Sunday, Scott said. By Monday, temperatures will drop into the 60s, with 65 degrees expected Tuesday for the first day of Fall.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground stop issued at O'Hare as waves of heavy rain continue | 0 | 8.82 | 01-10-2026 |
| 2 | Ground stop issued at O'Hare Airport due to storms, FAA says | 0 | 7.34 | 31-08-2026 |
| 3 | Chicago forecast: Multiple waves of heavy rain, isolated storms through Thursday | 0 | 11.32 | 30-09-2026 |
| 4 | Torrential downpours, widespread rain possible in Chicago area | 0 | 4.8 | 16-09-2026 |
| 5 | Chicago weather: Rain and storms nearly every day as ‘unsettled' pattern continues | 0 | 7.88 | 16-09-2026 |
| 6 | Chicago radar: Track showers, storms moving in for the morning commute | 0 | 9.01 | 09-09-2026 |
| 7 | Hundreds of flights canceled at O'Hare Airport as heavy rain arrives | 0 | 10.22 | 19-09-2026 |
| 8 | Water alert issued for Chicago-area; residents asked to delay showers amid heavy rain, flooding | 0 | 9.18 | 30-09-2026 |
| 9 | ‘Soaking wet:' Stormy, rainy weekend ahead for Chicago area; severe weather possible | 0 | 6.14 | 18-09-2026 |
| 10 | Multiple rounds of heavy rain possible this weekend, flash flood watch issued | 0 | 5.45 | 18-09-2026 |