The Federal Aviation Administration imposed ground stops at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport on Sunday, August 9, 2026, due to severe weather. The ground stop at O’Hare started just before noon and was lifted shortly after 3 p.m. Midway’s ground stop began just before 1 p.m. and lasted until 3:45 p.m.
Delays and Flight Operations
Even after the ground stop was lifted at O’Hare, flight arrivals continued to face delays averaging approximately 100 minutes, according to the FAA. Flights destined for Chicago were held at their departure airports during the stops, contributing to ongoing delays. In addition to arrival delays, O’Hare also
reported departure delays during the disruption.
Cause of Ground Stops
Both ground stops were implemented in response to severe weather conditions affecting the Chicago area on August 9. The FAA enforced these measures to ensure flight safety amid the adverse weather impacting O’Hare and Midway airports.
