Coming Storm Cancels Hundreds of Flights out of Chicago Thursday

The approaching thunderstorms have compelled Southwest Airlines to cancel all of its afternoon flights, about 250 of them, out of Midway Airport Thursday. The Chicago Aviation Department reports that airlines at O’Hare International Airport have cancelled almost 400 flights.

The National Weather Service says severe weather will hit hard south of Chicago, with winds over 55 miles an hour. The weather makes the loss of air traffic control operations at the Aurora flight control building due to last weekend’s fire more challenging for Chicago’s two airports, which have already cancelled thousands of flights in the last week.

“The greatest coverage of storms will likely occur this evening and tonight. Some storms may reach severe levels late this afternoon through this evening with the main threat being damaging straight line winds, though there is a low chance for an isolated tornado. Heavy rainfall is possible and most areas may receive upwards of one inch by Friday morning, with isolated higher totals depending on the extent of stronger thunderstorms,” reports the National Weather Service.

» read the National Weather Service report

» check flight status at flightstats.com

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