Chicago flights canceled: Severe weather causes travel issues for thousands in the area

Tornado touches down near O'Hare Airport: NWS

The severe weather in the Chicago area affected many travelers at O'Hare and Midway airports.

CHICAGO - Severe weather in the Chicago area caused a ground stop at O'Hare and Midway airports Wednesday night.

O'Hare International Airport is unfortunately the focus of what "FlightAware" calls its misery map.

The severe storm led to hundreds of flight delays and cancelations at Midway and O’Hare.

By 10 p.m., 397 flights in and out of O’Hare had been canceled, according to FlyChicago, and more than 1,200 flights were delayed.

That made up the majority of canceled flights in the U.S. on Wednesday, which was topping 500 by late evening.

Things worsened amid a ground stop at the airport. Thousands of passengers were forced to shelter in place, packing into an underground tunnel at the O’Hare.

Where to hide in your home when a tornado is coming

Kaitlin Cody has some tips on how to stay safe during severe weather.

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The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down around 7 p.m. near O’Hare, and was touching the ground intermittently while it moved east.

Amtrak also suspended trains due to severe weather.

Meanwhile, around the same time, there was also a ground stop at Midway where heavy rain tore through the area. By 10 p.m. Wednesday, 40 flights were canceled there and 444 flights were delayed.

If you are traveling, check the status of your flight before heading to the airport and plan extra time in your commute.