Weather threats cancel hundreds of flights at Chicago airports Sunday

The threat of severe weather both in Chicago and elsewhere led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights Sunday.

According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, as of 1:45 p.m. Sunday a total of 737 flights had been canceled at O’Hare International Airport in the last 24 hours, while 105 have been canceled at Midway.

What’s more, delays are mounting at O’Hare as showers and thunderstorms rumble through the area, with high winds also causing some issues for aircraft.

A winter storm is hammering parts of the U.S. in Minnesota and Wisconsin, while the severe weather threat will continue into Monday in parts of the southern and eastern U.S., potentially exacerbating any travel issues that are occurring.

In a statement, the CDA says that travelers should keep a sharp eye on their flight schedules, and that they should check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

“Delays may continue throughout the day Sunday at O’Hare and Midway International Airports due to forecasted severe weather, which may impact flight schedules, as well as longer-than-expected wait times at security checkpoints amid ongoing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing challenges,” officials said.

The ongoing partial government shutdown that’s impacting TSA operations could lead to delays at airports due to staffing issues at checkpoints, officials warn.

Most of the Chicago area is at a “slight” risk for severe weather on Sunday, with the main threats being gusty winds that could exceed 60 miles per hour, along with isolated hail and a non-zero risk of tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Even after the storms move out of the area Sunday evening, temperatures are expected to dip rapidly, which could lead to rain transitioning to snow across the area. A winter weather advisory has been issued for parts of the Chicago area, including northern Cook County, with blowing snow potentially impacting the Monday morning commute.

Temperatures will remain on the frigid side both Monday and Tuesday, with highs only expected to reach into the 20s, with wind chills dropping into the single-digits on Monday due to the blustery conditions.