A ground stop was issued at O’Hare Airport on Monday morning due to snowy and icy conditions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suspended landings and departures at the airport around 6:30 a.m. to ensure safety during the hazardous weather.
The ground stop was lifted by 9:30 a.m., but a ground delay remained in place until 8 p.m., with initial delays averaging over two hours. By 11 a.m., the FAA downgraded the situation to a departure delay averaging about 15 minutes. Despite the improvements, over 140 flights were canceled at O’Hare, and average delays continued at approximately 20 minutes. Midway Airport also reported 28 flight cancellations.
The Chicago area is experiencing lake-effect snow and patches of freezing drizzle, which are expected to persist through the evening. Travelers are advised to check flight updates via the National Airspace System Status website.
A severe winter storm swept across the central United States on Sunday, causing hazardous conditions, widespread disruptions, and prompting warnings from authorities. The storm, impacting states from Kansas to New Jersey, brought snow, ice, and high winds, while the South faced tornado threats and freezing temperatures. Over 60 million people remained under weather alerts as the storm tracked eastward.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings for nearly a dozen states. Blizzard conditions in Kansas and Missouri caused dangerous travel, while regions farther east braced for heavy snowfall. Areas around Washington, D.C., were expected to see up to 10 inches of snow by Monday morning, complicating travel and government operations.
Severe travel disruptions were reported nationwide. FlightAware recorded nearly 2,200 flight cancellations and more than 25,000 delays. Videos showed vehicles sliding off ice-slicked highways in Kansas, where storm chaser Brian Emfinger described roads as “a skating rink.” Some areas expected over a foot of snow.