The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all flights arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on the evening of August 21, 2026, as severe storms approached the area. The ground stop was set to remain in effect through 6:30 p.m. local time to mitigate safety risks posed by the weather.
Arriving flights were held at their departure airports, while departures from O’Hare faced an average delay of 45 minutes. The FAA announced plans to replace the ground stop with a Ground Delay Program once conditions allowed. Weather-related interruptions caused significant congestion, resulting in backed-up taxiways and crowded gates
throughout the airport.
Severe thunderstorm warnings covered several counties surrounding Chicago, and a severe thunderstorm watch was active for most of the Chicago region during the evening hours. The adverse weather conditions contributed to the FAA’s operational response and the subsequent flight delays at the major Midwest air hub.
