The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for flights arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway Airport on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The ground stop applied to departures from certain U.S. airports destined for Chicago until 11:15 a.m. Central Time at O’Hare, while Midway’s ground stop lasted until at least 11:30 a.m. Following the ground stop, a ground delay program will continue at O’Hare until 10 p.m. to manage arriving flights.
Storm Impact and Operational Disruptions
The ground stop was prompted by a line of severe storms moving through the Chicago area and surrounding Illinois and Indiana regions. These storms
generated destructive wind gusts reaching speeds up to 100 miles per hour, along with heavy rainfall and brief tornadoes. The intense weather caused downed trees and power lines, triggering flood warnings across Chicago. During the storms, the Chicago Department of Aviation confirmed that Midway Airport’s control tower was briefly evacuated as a safety precaution.
