The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented ground stops at both O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2026, due to severe weather conditions in Chicago. The ground stop at O’Hare began just before noon, while Midway Airport’s ground stop started just before 1 p.m.
Ground Stop Durations and Delay Statistics
The ground stop at O’Hare International Airport remained in place until shortly after 3 p.m., while the Midway Airport ground stop lasted through 3:45 p.m. The FAA reported that after the O’Hare ground stop was lifted, flight delays persisted, with average departure delays reaching approximately 100 minutes.
Operational Impact on Flights Bound for Chicago
During the ground stops, flights
destined for Chicago were held at their airports of origin to prevent congestion. At O’Hare International Airport, departure delays continued beyond the lifting of the ground stop. These measures aimed to manage air traffic safely amid multiple chances of severe weather forecasted for Chicago on August 9.
